Ronald achieved attention with his stage performance in Mourning Becomes Electra by Eugene O'Neill, directed by Peter Hall (1955).[3] This led to Alexander Korda signing him to a contract with London films and giving him a role in Storm Over the Nile (1956), as one of the main group of friends.[4]
He appeared opposite Vivien Leigh on stage in South Sea Bubble (1956) by Noël Coward and reprised this role on British TV.[5]
He was third billed in the comedy Sailor Beware (1956), one of the ten most popular films at the British box office in 1956.[6]
He was in A Hill in Korea (1956), a Korean War film.