I'm not ready to bow out just yet: Caine

Michael Caine has dismissed suggestions that he is set to step down as one of Hollywood’s leading men.

The veteran actor had been reported as saying that his current role in revenge thriller Harry Brown was to be his last as a lead character.

But at the world premiere of the British film in Toronto, Caine said that his words had been misinterpreted and that he was still available for starring roles, as long as the script was good enough.

Asked if reports of his semi-retirement were true, the 76-year-old actor replied: “No, no, no. I didn’t say that – you know you get misquoted all the time.”

Referring to the source of the confusion, Caine said: “The guy said to me, ’You gonna retire?’. I said, ’You don’t retire in this business, the business retires you.”

But he added that he was more picky about roles and would not do a film unless he felt it was right for him.

As to the possibility of his retirement, Caine said “there will be no announcement” when it happens, adding that he just would not be on screen as much.