Sir Michael Cain has announced his retirement from acting following the release of his latest movie The Great Escaper.
The 90-year-old star has a lengthy and impressive resume with more than 150 acting roles across a career spanning eight decades - he’s also nabbed himself two Oscars, a knighthood and three Golden Globes.
In his newest flick, which is based on a true story, the legendary actor plays the role of British World War II Royal Navy veteran Bernard Jordan, who escapes from his care home to attend the 70th anniversary D-Day commemorations in France.
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It also stars the late Glenda Jackson as Bernard’s wife Irene.
The Great Escaper has proved to be a hit with critics and currently holds a very respectable 7.9 on IMDB.
And it appears as though Caine is happy to retire on such a high, telling BBC Radio 4: "I keep saying I'm going to retire. Well I am now."
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He added: "I've figured, I've had a picture where I've played the lead and had incredible reviews... What am I going to do that will beat this?"
Caine was a perfect casting choice to play the 89-year-old Navy vet, but has admitted that he gets offered fewer roles now he’s in his twilight years.
"The only parts I'm liable to get now are 90-year-old men. Or maybe 85," he joked.
"They're not going to be the lead. You don't have leading men at 90, you're going to have young handsome boys and girls. So I thought, I might as well leave with all this."
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Caine, whose acting credits include The Italian Job, Dunkirk Hannah and Her Sisters, Educating Rita and Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, revealed that he actually turned down the role three times before signing up as he already considered himself to be retired.
However, while he may have considered himself retired from acting, he still kept himself busy and his first novel is set to hit shelves later this year.
Deadly Game centres on DCI Harry Taylor - a no-nonsense cop with little time for red tape and following the book.
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Speaking earlier this year, Caine said: “It's been my ambition for years to write a thriller. It's the genre I most love to read and I've really got a buzz out of working on Deadly Game and teaming up with Hodder once again to publish it.
“I hope readers enjoy getting to know Harry Taylor as much as I did.”
Topics: TV and Film, Celebrity
Claire Reid