 Shaw was born and brought up in Holt , Norfolk , and made his acting debut at age eight at a London theatre . He studied acting at Gresham 's School and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art . Although he worked primarily on the London stage , he made his Broadway debut in 1929 , when he played one of the two murderers in Rope 's End . He appeared in his first film , Caste , in 1930 and quickly began to create a name for himself in films . He described himself as a " rotten actor " as a youth and said his success was primarily due to his good looks . He claimed to mature as a performer only after returning from service in the Royal Air Force during World War II . 
