Alec Guinness in 1973, by Allan Warren

Plaque installed by the British Film Institute in the City of Westminster, London in recognition of Guinness's contribution to British cinema

Sir Alec Guinness, CH, CBE (1914–2000) was a consummate English actor. In the British Film Institute listing of 1999 of the 100 most important British films of the 20th century, Guinness was single most noted actor, represented across nine films — six in starring roles and three in supporting roles.

After an early career on the stage, Guinness made a name for himself in six Ealing Comedies, starting in 1949 with both A Run for Your Money and Kind Hearts and Coronets — in which he played nine different characters — going on to lead roles in The Lavender Hill Mob and The Man in the White Suit both in 1951, The Ladykillers in 1955, and culminating with Barnacle Bill in 1957.

He is known for his six collaborations with David Lean: Herbert Pocket in Great Expectations (1946), Fagin in Oliver Twist (1948), Col. Nicholson in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor), Prince Faisal in Lawrence of Arabia (1962), General Yevgraf Zhivago in Doctor Zhivago (1965), and Professor Godbole in A Passage to India (1984).

He is also known for his portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi in George Lucas's original Star Wars trilogy; for the original film, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 50th Academy Awards.

He continued his acting in theatre throughout his working life, but his later life was closely associated with his definitive depiction of the leading role of George Smiley in the two BBC television series of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People by John le Carré.

• Alec Guinness at the British Film Institute^{[better source needed]}
• Alec Guinness at the BFI's Screenonline
• Alec Guinness at IMDb
• Alec Guinness at the TCM Movie Database