 In 1938 Olivier joined Richardson to film the spy thriller Q <unk> , released the following year . Frank <unk> , the critic for The New York Times , thought Olivier was " not quite so good " as Richardson , but was " quite acceptable " . In late 1938 , lured by a salary of $ 50 @,@ 000 , the actor travelled to Hollywood to take the part of <unk> in the 1939 film Wuthering Heights , alongside <unk> Oberon and David Niven . In less than a month Leigh had joined him , explaining that her trip was " partially because Larry 's there and partially because I intend to get the part of Scarlett O <unk> " — the role in Gone with the Wind in which she was eventually cast . Olivier did not enjoy making Wuthering Heights , and his approach to film acting , combined with a dislike for Oberon , led to tensions on set . The director , William <unk> , was a hard <unk> , and Olivier learned to remove what Billington described as " the carapace of theatricality " to which he was prone , replacing it with " a <unk> reality " . The resulting film was a commercial and critical success that earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor , and created his screen reputation . Caroline Lejeune , writing for The Observer , considered that " Olivier 's dark , moody face , abrupt style , and a certain fine arrogance towards the world in his playing are just right " in the role , while the reviewer for The Times wrote that Olivier " is a good embodiment of <unk> ... impressive enough on a more human plane , speaking his lines with real distinction , and always both romantic and alive . " 
