Michael Caine

Michael Caine was born Maurice Micklewhite in Rotherhithe in 1933 and kept the South London accent, which in the British cinema of the period was close to a career-limiting decision. He broke it open by doing the opposite of what was expected: his first big part, in Zulu in 1964, is a posh lieutenant. Then came the run that defined him, the reluctant spy of The Ipcress File, the title role in Alfie, which brought his first Academy Award nomination, and the thief in The Italian Job.

The specific thing he does is stillness plus contempt. Caine underplays, keeps the voice level and lets the other actor use up all the air in the room. Sleuth in 1972 is the pure form of it, two men and a house, and it earned a second Oscar nomination; thirty-five years later he made the film again in the other part. Educating Rita won him a BAFTA and a Golden Globe, and Hannah and Her Sisters brought the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

He also took nearly everything he was offered, which is why the filmography contains Jaws: The Revenge alongside the great work, and he has never once pretended otherwise. The last act is the best-managed of any actor of his generation: repeated work for Christopher Nolan, including Alfred in the Batman films and the melancholy old men of The Prestige and Interstellar. He is one of only five male actors nominated for acting Oscars across five different decades, holds a BAFTA Fellowship, was knighted in 2000, and has now retired after more than 130 films.