Editing John Hurt (section)

== Early life and education ==
John Vincent Hurt was born on 22 January 1940, in [[Chesterfield, Derbyshire]],<ref name=biography.com>{{cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/people/john-hurt-9347680|title=John Hurt biography|publisher=Biography.com|access-date=16 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016222522/http://www.biography.com/people/john-hurt-9347680|archive-date=16 October 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Coveney |first=Michael |date=2017-01-28 |title=Sir John Hurt obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/28/john-hurt-obituary |access-date=2024-10-17 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> the son of Arnould Herbert Hurt (1904–1999) and Phyllis (née Massey; 1907–1975). His father had been a mathematician, but became a [[Church of England]] clergyman and served as [[vicar]] of [[Holy Trinity Church, Shirebrook|Holy Trinity Church]] in [[Shirebrook|Shirebrook, Derbyshire]]; his mother, a one-time actress, became "the first female draughtsman" at [[Metropolitan-Vickers]] in Manchester.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lipworth |first=Elaine |date=2011-04-01 |title=All about our mothers ... |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/apr/02/mothers-day-cher-martin-lawrence-john-hurt-michael-caine-anthony-hopkins |access-date=2024-10-17 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/43/John-Hurt.html|title=John Hurt biography|publisher=Filmreference.com|access-date=28 October 2010}}</ref><ref name="BBC Radio Derby interview 2002">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/derby/realmedia/2002/01/john_hurt.ram|title=BBC Radio Derby|access-date=28 October 2010}}</ref> In 1937, Hurt's father moved his family to Derbyshire, where he became Perpetual Curate of Holy Trinity Church. When Hurt was five, his father became the vicar of St Stephen's Church in [[Woodville, Derbyshire]], and remained there until 1953.<ref>{{cite news |title=Woodville and Hartshorne Heritage Trail |url=https://www.southderbyshire.gov.uk/our-services/things-to-do-and-places-to-visit/arts-and-culture/heritage-trails/woodville-and-hartshorne-heritage-trail |access-date=26 February 2021 |agency=South Derbyshire District Council}}</ref>

At the age of eight, Hurt was sent to the Anglican [[St Michael's Preparatory School, Otford|St Michael's Preparatory School]] in [[Otford|Otford, Kent]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/john-hurt-obituary-open-hearted-and-hysterically-funny-1.2955283|title=John Hurt obituary: Open-hearted and hysterically funny|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> where he eventually developed his passion for acting. He decided he wanted to become an actor after his first role as a girl in a school production of ''[[The Blue Bird (play)|The Blue Bird]]'' by [[Maurice Maeterlinck]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/apr/27/guardianinterviewsatbfisouthbank|title=John Hurt &#124; Film &#124; The Guardian|website=amp.theguardian.com|date=27 April 2000 }}</ref> Hurt stated that a senior master at the school would abuse him and others by removing his two false front teeth and putting his tongue in the boys' mouths, as well as rubbing their faces with his stubble, and that the experience affected him hugely.<ref name="Abused">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/john-hurt-i-was-abused-too-320009.html|title=John Hurt: I was abused, too|first=Sholto|last=Byrnes|date=16 October 2005|work=Independent on Sunday|access-date=28 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131162248/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/john-hurt-i-was-abused-too-320009.html|archive-date=31 January 2017|location=London, UK}}</ref> Hurt, aged 12, became a boarder at [[Lincoln Christ's Hospital School|Lincoln School]] (then a grammar school) because he had failed the entrance examination for admission to his brother's school. His headmaster at Lincoln School laughed when Hurt told him he wanted to be an actor, telling him, "Well, you may be alright in school plays but you wouldn't stand a chance in the profession."<ref name="HurtInterview">{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/apr/27/guardianinterviewsatbfisouthbank|title=The Guardian Interview: John Hurt |work=The Guardian |location=UK |access-date=28 October 2010|date=1 July 2000}}</ref>

Hurt's father moved to St Aidan's Church in [[Cleethorpes|Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire]]. In a ''[[The Guardian|Guardian]]'' interview Hurt states the family lived in a vicarage opposite a cinema, but he was not allowed to go there, as films were "frowned upon." However, watching theatre was considered "fine" and encouraged particularly by his mother, who took him regularly to the [[repertory theatre]] in Cleethorpes. His parents disliked his later acting ambitions and encouraged him to become an art teacher instead.<ref name="HurtInterview"/> Aged 17, Hurt enrolled in [[Grimsby]] Art School (now the East Coast School of Art and Design), where he studied art. In 1959, he won a scholarship allowing him to study for an Art Teacher's Diploma at [[Saint Martin's School of Art]] in London.<ref name=sharp>Rob Sharp (19 April 2008). [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/central-saint-martins-the-art-and-soul-of-britain-811786.html Central Saint Martins: The art and soul of Britain] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420205720/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/central-saint-martins-the-art-and-soul-of-britain-811786.html |date=20 April 2016 }}. ''The Independent'' (London). Retrieved July 2013.</ref> Despite the scholarship, paying his tuition fees and living expenses was difficult, so he persuaded some of his friends to pose naked and sold the portraits. In 1960, he won a scholarship to [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]], where he trained for two years,<ref name="Abused"/> graduating in 1962 with an Acting (RADA Diploma).<ref name="rada">{{cite web |url= https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/john-hurt/ |title= RADA Student & graduate profiles: John Hurt |work= rada.ac.uk |access-date=7 January 2023}}</ref>