Not a lot of people know this but Sir Michael Caine thinks fellow movie star Colin Farrell should stay off the sauce.
The actor issued the advice at a press conference to publicise his latest project, Irish comedy caper The Actors, which had its world premiere at the Savoy Cinema in Dublin last night. "You know how the first thing they take away from hyperactive kids is ketchup? I think Colin should stop the ketchup," he joked, adding that Farrell was one of many young actors that he admired.
Two-time Oscar winner Caine, who turned 70 recently, was in sparkling form as he spoke of his delight at receiving the script for The Actors, which was filmed in Dublin and Co Wicklow last year. Irish comedian Dylan Moran and Dubliner Sir Michael Gambon also star.
The film centres on two eccentric thespians (Caine and Moran) who get caught up in a gangland robbery while researching roles in Richard the Third. "It was the only way I was ever going to get to play Richard the Third so I jumped at the chance," said Caine, explaining why he took the role. "And I got to do it my way."
Director and writer Conor McPherson - the movie was inspired by an original idea from film-maker Neil Jordan - said it had taken five years to get the movie made because he refused to cast American actors in the main roles.
He said Moran was "a terrific actor" who had the quality of "a real loser", which made him perfect for the role. "He looks like he has landed from another planet," he said, predicting a glittering movie career for the Navan man. Moran was unable to attend the press conference but was present at the première last night.
Asked whether he enjoyed working in Dublin, Caine said it was "an amazing place. I'm very used to Dublin and the theatrical side of it," he said, adding that the city had changed considerably since he filmed Educating Rita here in the 1980s. "It became a whole different place, much more prosperous," he said. "The Common Market was a very good thing for Ireland". He said filming The Actors was a "very nostalgic" experience.
His role required him to dress up as a woman, at which point he discovered he had "great legs".
McPherson said a female stunt double was going to be used but Caine's legs turned out to be more attractive so a double wasn't necessary.
The Actors will be released in cinemas nationwide on May 16th.