The iconic 1962 movie role Roger Moore called “the biggest regret of my life”
Roger Moore’s greatest career regret was missing the chance to play T. E. Lawrence in David Lean’s 1962 epic *Lawrence of Arabia*. Moore said he would not change anything else, but watching Peter O’Toole’s performance left him depressed and convinced he had missed a role in what he considered the greatest film of all time.
Moore was already an established actor when he began playing Simon Templar in ITV’s *The Saint* in 1962; the series later gained a US audience and helped raise his profile before he became James Bond. *Lawrence of Arabia*, based on the British officer’s experiences during the First World War, won seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, though O’Toole did not win the lead actor award.
- Moore called missing *Lawrence of Arabia* his biggest regret.
- Peter O’Toole played T. E. Lawrence in the 1962 epic.
- The film won seven Oscars.
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Lawrence of Arabia is a 1962 film directed by David Lean, based on the wartime experiences of T. E. Lawrence, a British officer who became involved in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War. Peter O’Toole played Lawrence, with the film following his role in the campaign and the tensions surrounding it.
Roger Moore was an established actor who began starring as Simon Templar in ITV’s The Saint in 1962. The series later found an audience in the United States and helped raise Moore’s profile before he went on to play James Bond.
The film won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, although O’Toole did not win the lead actor award. Its scale and reputation have kept it prominent in discussions of British cinema and the careers of the actors associated with it.