Oscar winning actor Michael Caine once suggested that he was ‘fed up’ with an aspect of his decades-long career years before the BAFTA recipient announced his retirement
Michael Caine once opened up about feeling “fed up” over something in his career that he hasn’t been able to achieve despite being in the running for it.
Michael, now 91, appeared in numerous films over the course of his decades-long career prior to announcing his retirement two years ago. He received much acclaim in the years since his acting debut in the 1950s but once shared that he was “fed up” of not winning an Academy Award – also known as an Oscar – in the leading actor category.
Despite being nominated four times over a 30 year period, he hasn’t ever been awarded Best Actor in a Leading Role at the film awards ceremony in the US. Michael shared his disappointed about not winning the award whilst speaking to Salon in 2003, a year after his fourth, and most recent, nomination for it.
Discussing regrets, he was asked if there was anything he hadn’t been able to do that he still wanted to. Michael told the outlet: “I never won a leading Oscar.” He noted that he had two Oscars for “supporting” roles, which was “very nice,” but suggested he wanted to win for a leading role.
He said in the interview: “But I’ve been nominated four times for a leading Oscar and you get fed up sitting there losing, you know? I keep sitting there with that smile on my face, that same sickly smile, saying, ‘Well done!'”
Michael was first nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 1967 for his performance as Alfie Elkins in the film Alfie (1966). The accolade was instead won by the late Paul Scofield for his portrayal of Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons (1966). It marked the first time that Michael was up for the leading actor award. He was later nominated for his performances in Sleuth (1972), Educating Rita (1983) and the Quiet American (2002).
He however won Best Supporting Actor in 1987 for his role as Elliot in the film Hannah and Her Sisters (1986). He went on to win that award for a second time in 2000 for his role as Dr. Wilbur Larch in the Cider House Rules (1999).
Although he hasn’t won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role, he has received the accolade in the UK. Michael was awarded Best Actor in a Leading Role at the BAFTAs in 1984 for his role as Professor Frank Bryant in Educating Rita (1983). He tied for the award with Dustin Hoffman, who jointly won for the film Tootsie (1982).
Michael announced his retirement in 2023, more than 70 years after his debut in the acting industry. He shared the news following the release of his film the Great Escaper (2023), in which he played the lead role. He said on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whilst promoting the film: “I kept saying I’m going to retire. Well I am now. Because I’ve figured, I’ve had a picture [where] I’ve played the lead and it’s got incredible reviews.” He added: “The only parts I’m liable to get now are old men, 90-year-old men. Or maybe 85. I thought, I might as well leave with all this. I’ve got wonderful reviews. What am I gonna do to beat this?”
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