Sir Michael Caine Owes Long Life To Wife Of 50 Years Shakira: ‘Without Her, I’d Have Been Dead Long Ago’

Jan 10, 2023

Sir Michael Caine may be known in his homeland as a British icon but to people around the world whose lives he has touched through his works, he is a film legend who will forever be remembered for generations. Outside his colorful, decades-long career as an actor, Michael is a loving husband to his wife and a doting father to his kids.

Born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite, Michael was born on March 14, 1933, and grew up in Southwark, London but had to move to North Runcton in Norfolk at one point in his life.

Michael’s love for acting started at an early age, marking his acting debut at a village school. At the age of 10, he acted in a school play where he took on the role of the father of the ugly sisters in the classic fairytale "Cinderella." 

But before Michael became the icon that he is today, he worked as a filing clerk and messenger. When he reached the age of 20, he ventured into acting as a career where he adopted the stage name, Michael White. He got the role of the drunkard Hindley in a production of "Wuthering Heights."

When he moved to London to pursue a career, he had to change his name after he was informed that an actor named Michael White already existed. It was there that he decided to change his name to Michael Caine, taking inspiration from the 1954 film "The Caine Mutiny."

In 1956, he appeared in his first-ever film, "A Hill in Korea," where he played one of the privates. 

Since then, Michael has appeared in various film and television series, including "Zulu," "The Italian Job," "The Last Valley," "The Man Who Would Be King" and "Mister Charlesworth" among others.

Michael met his first wife, Patricia Haines, after moving to his second repertory company. They got married in 1955 but called it quits seven years later in 1962. They have one child together named Dominique.

Following that, it took the legendary actor quite a while before he found the woman who he would spend the rest of his life with. He went on to date Edina Ronay, Natalie Wood, Bianca Jagger and Jill St. John. But even though he has dated many beautiful women, he never considered himself a ladies' man.

“I wear glasses but I’m certainly not handsome. And I don’t think I’m considered a sex symbol anyway. I don’t think a lot of women go out to see me in movies,” he said on "The Dick Cavett Show."

He found his true love when he got married to his wife of five decades, model and actress Shakira Caine (née Baksh), in January 1973. Michael first saw Shakira in a commercial for a popular coffee brand in the '70s. He instantly fell in love with her. So, he knew he had to get her number.

“I saw this lady on the television, in a commercial and fell in love instantly. I just watched her and I thought ‘That’s the woman for me’ and said to my mate ‘We’re going to Brazil in the morning, we’re gonna find her,’” he said in an interview on "The Jonathan Ross Show."

Much to his surprise, Shakira wasn’t Brazilian and was, in fact, Indian, and lived nearby on Fulham Road, London.

But it took him some time to convince Shakira to meet him. He called her every day for 10 days until she finally agreed. Together they share a daughter, Natasha Haleema.

"I got her number from the ad agency. She couldn't get rid of me on the telephone, so she decided to come out with me and get rid of me," he told PEOPLE in an interview back in 2018. 

Even though he is a Christian and Shakira is a Muslim, they have managed to make their relationship work without any fuss. In a PEOPLE cover story in 1976, Michael talked about his relationship with Shakira, admitting they were inseparable. He also described her as the most beautiful person he has ever met. 

"We are never apart. She is one of the most beautiful people I have ever seen, but she is also the gentlest, kindest person," he said. "I have this extraordinary beautiful Indian wife who cooks fantastic Italian food. Things can't get better than that,” he added.

Even though Michael is in his late 80s, he still makes sure to go on date nights with his wife. In November 2022, they were spotted going out to a bar in London. Having celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in January 2023, Michael and Shakira are enjoying their golden years together, and they are even doting grandparents nowadays.

The iconic actor also credited his wife for his decision to live a healthy life, saying he lost 30lbs because of her support and encouragement.

“Without her, I’d have been dead long ago. I used to drink a bottle of vodka a day and smoke several packs of cigarettes,” he told Express.

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