Michael Caine: 'Can't vote for an actor just because he's black' - BBC News

Sir Michael Caine, perhaps Britain's biggest Hollywood star, has said he would star in a film about the Hatton Gardens film "if the script was good". He also spoke to the BBC's Nick Robinson for the Today Programme about the Oscars controversy and the lack of nominations for black actors.
Subscribe to BBC News HERE bit.ly/1rbfUog
Check out our website: www.bbc.com/news
Facebook: / bbcworldnews
Twitter: / bbcworld
Instagram: / bbcnews

[@bruceboome]

It wasn't the headline that grabbed me, it was the name Michael Caine. Always a pleasure to listen to, clear thinker and extremely funny. If I could choose only one person to have lunch with, it would be him.

[@Locktwiste72]

I'm black and I have always loved Sir Michael Caine. He is also my father's favorite actor.

[@nightowl5475]

As an American, I can’t say enough good things about this man. He’s an incredible actor and one of my favorite actors. He’s also a very wise man who, like he said, has been poor and rich and can see through all the angles of things. I enjoy watching him coach young actors on the art of acting. He really is a remarkable man and he looks absolutely terrific for a man in his 80’s. I would love to be in the audience and just watch him work. I can tell you, to all the folks living in the U.K. You guys, or should I say, you bloks are extremely lucky to have this man representing your country. I have all his movies and love each and every performance given. Thank you Mr. Caine for a remarkable career.

[@mikearchibald744]

Actually, in the eighties you would have seen him more in new york or florida than britain. But it would have been interesting for him to expand on the public policies to do with wealth-they are pretty obvious for poor and middle class.

[@mjm0787]

Well said, Michael Caine. Finally someone with the guts to talk sense and to refuse to be a cowardly racial sycophant.

[@lewisc215]

That's not what he was doing.

[@elizabethsutton9377]

This black woman loves her some Michael Caine and will always! He is great friends with Sidney Portier and in no ways a racist in any way.

[@denniswong7355]

You're right since Caine admired Idris Elba in "Beasts Of No Nation"

[@juttamaier2111]

There is nothing racist about his interview. He claims talent should get an Oscar, not colour, and I agree with him totally. Call me racist if you like, you sore coloured people out there, I don‘t care.

[@loot6]

Nobody said he is racist anywhere....not sure why you're even saying that. He said we shouldn't discriminate against white actors - how could that ever be racist?

[@misterrightuk]

@@juttamaier2111 Fine, you are a racist. It's not only 'Coloured people' that are sore.

[@toddterrace153]

Bbc that headline was ridiculous! Love this guy and will go down as one of the greats!

[@philrothwell6858]

What a guy !!!!!!!!! Words of wisdom. Good health to you Mr Caine

[@tiffsaver]

One of the greatest actors who ever lived. Watch "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" for a master class on how to use understatement in acting.

[@joesmith1395]

How dare Michael Caine be racist enough to say that you should be judged on your performance and not your skin colour

[@andreasegde]

Are you bleeding serious?

[@tiadaid]

@@andreasegde It's sarcasm...

[@andreasegde]

Of course, you would say that, wouldn’t you.

[@ian-checkmyaboutsection3961]

andreasegde it is quite obvious that it is sarcasm. The way it’s worded & all that.

[@DudeSilad]

@@andreasegde you're not the brightest are you son?

[@2wayplebney]

Sir Michael has the best attitude towards work.

[@22grena]

Great actor and good to see him still going strong

[@rackinfrackin]

"The great thing about not getting nominated is you don't have to go." LOL! When Michael Caine won his Best Supporting Actor Oscar for "Hannah and Her Sisters" in 1987, he wasn't there to accept it. Presenter Sigourney Weaver explained Caine "couldn't be there" but she "knew how much it would have meant to him." Earlier that very same afternoon I saw him shopping at Barnes & Noble in Manhattan! (In fact I almost said "good luck tonight," but I didn't want to disturb him.) He has his priorities, and smug, self-congratulatory Hollywood vanity fests aren't among them.

[@Omnicient.]

It's possible he was making a film in New York at the time and couldn't be in LA as he has collected other awards from there. I think we tend to see what we need to see.

[@jessiejames7492]

well said...i love michael caine . very straight talking fella

[@k35magnum]

Despite the bullshit click bait headline, this was actually a great interview. Does painting a rational, well rounded and talented individual, as 'possibly a racist' really pull in that much more views than usual? It's Michael fucking Caine, people are gonna watch it.

[@k35magnum]

***** I suggest you watch the video fully and get some context for what my original comment was actually about.

[@DavidT-Mallorca]

+Rook3v Yeah, totally agree! Anyone who knows anything about Caine, (Indian wife, known to have genuine black friends over a long time period, a lot of gay friends when homosexuality was illegal), knows that the one thing that he ISN'T, is a bigot. The headline suggests that Caine used the line in a completely different way to how he actually did use it. Hey, why not go one step further? Take a word or two from a variety of sentences that Caine said, then swap them around until you have "Black people don't deserve Oscars". Fucking ridiculous! Perhaps the headline writer works for News International?!

[@k35magnum]

***** It's there to rile everybody. Whatever the viewer base may be, the point is that the BBC is the problem here. This might be the internet but try to make an effort to not be a prejudice ass hole, please.

[@D.N..]

+MumboJumbo ! So true, the media loves to rile up the blacks , and the media has an agenda to push racial violence . It's common in any country in Europe and Amerika.

[@k35magnum]

***** Heh then I'd say the BBC is a bigger troll than that. It's a provocative title taking what he said out of context to lure anyone looking for a reason to get angry; black, white yellow or brown. And you don't have to be ignorant to be curious to hear what possibly racist thing was said. I guess I'd just say, they along with you need to work on how you phrase things. "Idiot Blacks" given that I had no other context for who you are, implied a certain general attitude.

[@dalebaker9109]

He never sounds any older, and looks amazing, for someone of his age.

[@ivanfjeldsted7218]

Stop interrupting the man! Anything he has to say is infinitely more important than anything you have to say.

[@klingonuranus1382]

my new favorite actor. speaks his mind and tells the truth.

[@Alanoffer]

He's doing really well for his age ,I was shocked at how old he is ,he's not like an old man at all ,,great stuff

[@erepsekahs]

A tremendous human being, and a tremendous actor. Tremendously solid, impressive character, and yet soft, kind, humorous and gentle at the same time. He can play any character whatsoever. Stunning. There really is no one else quite as capable. (Does that make sense?.....anyway, you know what I mean.)

[@AUSTRALIANMAGICIANS]

hahah love this guy, "the great thing about not getting nominated if you dont have to go" hahaha classic :D

[@routeman680]

"You can't vote for an actor [just] because he's black." Michael Caine is right of course. Maybe where Hollywood could improve is to have more parts well suited to black actors or more parts suitable for actors regardless of colour. Caine makes this all round a really illuminating interview. And for once the interviewer keeps a low profile and lets the interesting person talk.

[@loot6]

There are way less black people in the west and thus way less black actors...therefore less nominations. It's just simple maths. Also as he says you have to perform well enough to win the award.

[@mikearchibald744]

@@loot6 There are TONS of black actors, there are more actors in Hollywood than they know what to do with. And they most certainly could be used more often. Hell, I'm trying to remember the last time I was in a hospital and saw a white doctor, yet every medical drama they are almost all white with token minorities who 'look' white except for skin colour.

[@loot6]

@@mikearchibald744 'Tons' doesn't mean a lot since I'm talking about RATIO. There are obviously way more white actors than black actors since black people only make up 10% of the population at all. For every black actor you have 9 white actors also struggling to make it. Weird comment about doctors, I've never seen a black doctor in my life but I'm sure there are a fair amount. But since you mention it, Denzel Washington started out on St Elsewhere as the star doctor some 40 years back even... To generally not be racist against white or black people, you should see black actors 10% of the time and win 10% of the oscars. But that's not the only factor of course. Like for example black people dominate heavyweight boxing, while on the other hand there are almost no black chess grandmasters. Also nothing to do with racism.

[@mikearchibald744]

@@loot6 There is more than 'visibility' at issue in cinema though. And it highly depends on the area. Affluent suburban areas, lawyers offices, etc., all have a much higher proportion of visible minorities. Hell, if you go to Vancouver or parts of toronto ALL you see are 'visible minorities'. But its well known that studios have formulae for how to cast shows. It doesn't depend on the makeup of the accuracy of the show, what it depends on is the makeup of the audience and thats who they cater to, and that is almost OUTRIGHTLY racist. Its starting to change in film because now american films make more money in other countries and people in the midwest who have little money don't factor in nearly as much as before. So its most certainly 'racist', that doesn't mean what Caine says is inaccurate, but it does mean its far more complicated as 'racism' always is.

[@loot6]

@@mikearchibald744 Sorry but it's 10%, you just feel like there are a lot of minorities because it's more than you'd usually see in the areas you're talking about, but there are always still more white people everywhere. I've seen many movies where the cast is 100% black but for some reason nobody considers them racist even though that is definitely unrealistic since there are nowhere near that many black people. By your logic, heavyweight boxing and chess are also racist. In the current age, white people actually face the most discrimination - it's like nobody cares if it's about white people. Like for example Harry Shearer recently being recast for the black doctor because it was considered racist, and Apu the Indian shopkeeper was recast a while back too - but what about Groundskeeper Willie the over the top Scot played by an American? Doesn't matter because it's about white people... It's true you can be limited depending on what the story is about but that's not racist. You can't expect many black people in a romantic period drama or a western, it wouldn't be realistic - but still we do seem to get black people in them these days despite that. I would say racism has gone a bit crazy these days - if anything we're doing TOO much....

[@MilikUrdap]

The headline should be: "MICHAEL CAINE WANTS THE UK OUT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION".

[@ianraymondback]

And hes totally right and entitled to his opinion

[@jeanneanderson6593]

Sir Michael Caine is the epitome of grace, intelligence and charm. I've recently read all of his books and am eagerly seeking to see all of his movies...I've seen many of them, all great! God bless this man for his wisdom and kindness. He is an icon of greatness.

[@DrCruel]

That must be why Peter O'Toole never got his Oscar. He was black! Could'a knocked me over with a feather.

[@DrCruel]

alex kanyima Are you sure? I thought Shakira Baksh was Guyanese.

[@superlex611]

DrCruel she is a Colombian, but her grandparents are From lebanon

[@DrCruel]

alex kanyima Hardly qualifies as Irish, either way.

[@Tabish29]

DrCruel and Burton

[@JRobbySh]

He has aged so well.He looks and behaves like a man ten years younger. The voice is no very different from “Alfies”. :Fortunate man.

[@juttamaier2111]

The man is so right

[@brexitannia9703]

I totally agree with him. It's not about skin colour it's all about talent.

[@Rtechmobile]

Clickbait title or what ? The idea of being awarded on merit alone is without doubt the only criteria that matters.

[@tomhamilton5261]

Fantastic actor and great writer “What’s it all about “ is funny, moving and above all entertaining. Deserves to be on the same shelf as David Niven’s “The moons a balloon “ and it’s sequel “ Bring on the empty horses”

[@buba908]

damn, fantastic accent and great manners!

[@loot6]

Yes you obviously can't discriminate against white actors, very logical point from Michael. If anybody stopped to do any maths they'd be able to figure out that there are way less black actors and thus they will be less likely to get nominated.

[@adrianpeirson5027]

Michael Caine: 'We should come out the eu' - BBC News There, fixed the headline for you.

[@cockoffgewgle4993]

Michael Caine: "The KKK weren't so bad - BBC News.

[@kylelucien7632]

MC, what a lively brain for a 82

[@heyiamavinash2828]

I've learnt soo much about acting watching him!

[@leRoi10]

nice interview old boy !

[@chrisfoxwell4128]

Interview in 2016, Michael Caine still allowed to work. Same interview in 2018, Michael Caine forced to give back Oscar.

[@equine2020]

Love Michael. Great works.

[@Avidcomp]

@8:30 He _almost_ said "not a lot of people know that".

[@kriger17]

"I couldn't find television show to watch every day... except the news" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@earthlordstable3732]

Support this elegeant decent Gentleman from Mumbai! Too many blacks in unrequired places which is giving the generation from 90's a bad understanding of the history: Robin Hood having a black North African side kick as Morgan Freeman was the height of black washing!

[@VCYT]

I love this guy.

[@jujutalamina829]

Iconic

[@watchtellyinuk]

At 7:30. Britiain was NEVER really in the EU. We still used the pound, maintained a border ...

[@kwyzi]

a darling - good sense there

[@jakhaughton6675]

Down to earth and I bet he's no different if you were to meet him.

[@lordoffrog2354]

Sanity!

[@ericsmith6315]

Im almost dead and im not even 40. I have so much respect for Michael for hanging on this long :) After Bogart he is my Favourite actor

[@helenheeney2284]

Always well just love him

[@carefulconsumer8682]

Michael Caine understands what freedom is.

[@dmtryledesma8590]

Great sooooo Great Guy .

[@mango4ttwo635]

Twenty five years when I was ait uni, I knew a lot of actors - usually unemployed and doing odd jobs - in London. But that was in a London with rents at a quarter what they are now, and home prices a tenth. Obviously there is inflation, but salaries have barely doubled. It is a lot harder to be poor in London than it used to be, and that's where most theatre and other work is We are moving backwards and away from working class aspirants.it is not even who you know, but what yer dad's got

[@shivambawa]

My cocaine!

[@joesmith1395]

I really hope he's gotten old at just the right time where he'll constantly receive newer medicine to treat his ills

[@omegateemo1701]

LOVE THE FKIN TITTLE . i didnt watch the interview but the tittle is the response from me to all the ciritics to oscars this year

[@tatewinter8056]

Michael Caine has been a rich man and a poor man. He knows all the problems from all the perspectives. Not a lot of people know all of them

[@phillipecook3227]

Delightful.

[@venusasaboy]

Who hard pans the audio in an interview?

[@unnumbereddays]

5:20 is when video should've start

[@oddballsok]

the sound sucks.

[@stevegreen9460]

be a sad day when his generation has all come to pass. thay come from a time befor the world went silly, from a time when there were real problems and real hardships. crap how the world ended up now, no its worse than that its embaracing how things have become.

[@1506pinkers]

Wonderful actor - wonderful man.

[@UncleMort]

Click Bait

[@TellyWatcher1997]

Working class people are living longer because of our terrific National Health Service. Free at the point of use. No bills sent to our homes after we've had serious surgical procedures or other treatment. Can't praise it highly enough.

[@davehyde6207]

Absolutely brilliant man, his 1969 documentary on himself well worth watching

[@niceuneasy]

MC is a English legend bless him!!!

[@MrBadApple999]

FINALLY

[@MidnightRambler]

Correct.

[@MoonlightNothing]

I adore Michael Caine

[@joesmith-jb4ls]

I agree. There is no TV show I'd want to watch every day

[@royfr8136]

6 years later and its got even worse....

[@irishelk3]

Yeah, I don't really see the whole fuss about Idris Elba, he seems very ordinary, but maybe I'm wrong. The best blacktors are: Forest Whitaker - very good actor, Morgan Freeman, Samuel L Jackson, and I like Eddie Murphy.

[@danielsweet858]

Such an unpretentious man I would love to just kick back & talk with him 😃

[@filledwithvariousknowledge2747]

He’s even also said himself his marriage works well despite him being Christian and his wife Muslim

[@paddystrongjaw9995]

So what he’s saying is you should be judged on your acting ability and not the colour of your skin, sounds quite similar to MLK in my opinion.

[@paulgibbons2320]

If they filmed Zulu now at least half the cast would get an Oscar. But maybe not the ones you'd think.

[@clintbronson5]

And when he gets loudly HE GETS VERY LOUD INDEED!!!

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

I wonder where that dole office was

[@DavidMatchey]

Huh. 32 on average.

[@misterrightuk]

True but that year there could have been some black actors/actress nominated for the Oscars. The fact that some good performers where not even nominated was indeed racist.

[@lutrueson9000]

yeah , when you have first class heath care and money you live longer. The NHS is fucked

[@ritazanin1429]

Sir, you don’t know problems from a woman’s POV. So, you can’t tell you "know problems from all angles."

[@SamoTrnka]

The L/R channels are swapped.

[@matthewh.9544]

This is exactly what is toxic about the Holywood film industry now, it's cringable

[@deborahbarnes8377]

I may be wrong but I'm Sure people have voted for actors based on color. Not saying its right.

[@thewatchman1078]

Sadly this reflects the reality of our current diversity obsession. Instead of addressing the needs of the individual regardless of colour we are in a new aparthied which only sees and highlights skin colour, and not much else.

[@swastikausa]

its worth noting that sir micke has been married to a stunningly beautiful black muslim woman for decades. lady Shakira. Apparently he got all kinds of shit for that when he was younger.

[@Satano99]

My left ear loves this interview

[@Revelian1982]

Check your headphones.

[@Satano99]

@@Revelian1982 The sound mix is in a weird super stereo mode for some reason.

[@Revelian1982]

@@Satano99 Probably because of Trump.

[@Satano99]

@@Revelian1982 That makes no sense. Have a nice day.

[@Revelian1982]

@@Satano99 Trump is the cause of everything bad in the world. It's on the news all the time.

[@tomriddle4011]

I guess it's true. People do become more conservative with age.

[@tomriddle4011]

***** What makes you think I'm offended? He has the right to believe whatever he likes and I have the right to interpret his views as conservative. There's no need for you to get emotional.

[@papawheely4137]

Funny how people with more life experience choose views that some consider conservative. Funny how saying black people should be held to the same standard as whites would have been a radical idea 40 years ago, a liberal idea 20 years ago, and a racist idea today.

[@tomriddle4011]

Papa Wheely Doesn't it depend on the context in which that latter statement is made? the context of that black/white statement has changed greatly over the past 40 years. I'm sure you would agree?

[@papawheely4137]

TomRiddle88 Not really. In what context could it be ok to hold a black person to a different standard than a white person?

[@tomriddle4011]

Papa Wheely If the black person has not had the same opportunities as the white person.

[@listenmullahsb]

BBC going for clicky baity titles now... LOL... making Michael Caine look stupid...why? Thats what happens when people stop paying their tv licence for a shoddy service.

[@kay-marie1076]

The reason why no Black People were not nominated for 2 years in a row is because they were not playing a stereotypical role. All the Black Actors who have won an Oscar over the past years have won Oscars for stereotypical roles. If there are a few Black Actors who have played positive roles, they don't win Oscars plain and simple.

[@slightlyvisible8448]

+Kay-Marie Or maybe someone else who happened to be white just had a better performance. That shouldn't surprise you given that most actors are white.

[@michaelmuldowney8]

Funny to hear Michael Caine say "I'd do it if the script was good". Pity he did'nt think this way for THE SWARM, BEYOND THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE, JAWS 4, THE ISLAND, THE HAND, BLAME IT ON RIO, WATER etc.

[@equine2020]

Why isn't this being told to seniors? Legitimate agencies aren't aware of these cards. Medicare has a benefits card, but it's known by seniors.

[@equine2020]

This applies to a previous post. Came onto this one in error.

[@davidtraverse8178]

No one wants a film nominated because their black or anything else, the outrage is over the lack of diversity within the academy which nominates the films for awards.

[@jackwmith8445]

Young-old/old/old-old/terminal-old

[@MRZ12000]

He Left Holywood becase his Asean wfe was not famous as she was in London

[@mahooyahoo1]

All ways loved Michael Caine but he's lost some points with me coming out with such a statement how many white actors receive Oscars because they are white Many,many is he saying black actors are not good enough,it is about skin colour that's why the out cry, the fact is the with film makers still don't see black actors as the hero in the films getting the girl and walking off in the sunset, but as the drug dealer,pimp,white man driver,anything that's subservient to the white master..BUT love and respect to Michael Caine

[@AlternativeSack123]

Or maybe it's not about race, and you're just being racist by only seeing people for their race and not their merits...

[@cgoodwin8703]

+Bingding Memedream - Well said.

[@juttamaier2111]

Well, tell this to the directors of the movies, or the script writers. Besides, Oscars also go to good supporting rholes.

[@rnw2739]

If the black man is cast as the hero that's fine. But if he gets the girl at least make sure she is also black. I mean real black, not half caste. Proper black which entails massive shelf like arse, sponge hair and lips like inflatable dinghies. Sick of seeing them trot off with a white woman. Never any other race you notice. Why do blacks not go out with Chinese women? Or Asian women? No, always white.