Michael Caine in Dublin to film 'Educating Rita' talks about his career to date.

Michael Caine is in Dublin filming 'Educating Rita' directed by Lewis Gilbert and written by Willy Russell. He takes time out of his schedule to talk to 'Ireland's Eye' at Trinity College Dublin.

In Educating Rita, Michael Caine plays the role of an English literature university professor Dr Frank Bryant. Julie Walters plays Susan 'Rita' White, a working class hairdresser who enrolls on an English literature course.

He had previously worked with Lewis Gilbert on the film 'Alfie' (1966) which in many ways was his big break playing the role of a lovable scoundrel. Despite the film being made 17 years ago, people still refer to him as Alfie.

It was the first time people had really seen me.

Michael Caine believes that there was a change in writing during the 1960s which offered opportunities for more working class actors like him. In the past theatre and film had been written for and by the upper middle class and aristocracy. He points to the work of John Osborne and his play 'Look Back in Anger' as a turning point for the representation of the working class in theatre and film.

Michael Caine and his peers spent years working in theatre honing their craft before making it in the film industry. He believes he has done a good job if it appears to be effortless.

The better you are at it, the easier you make it look.

Some of his more challenging roles include playing a German mercenary leader in 'The Last Valley' (1971) set in the 14th century, a role as far away from the reality of his life as you can get. Another test for any actor was playing Milo Tindle in the film 'Sleuth' (1972) alongside Laurence Olivier. One of his favourite films was 'The Man Who Would Be King' in which he played Carnehan alongside Sean Connery and Christopher Plummer.

Those are the films that I really enjoyed doing.

A film like 'Educating Rita' is an entirely different role for Michael Caine as he plays a university Professor of English Literature. He is enjoying making a film in Ireland and says that Irish production crews are as expert as crews anywhere else.

Michael Caine has complete control over every role that he takes. He says the movie industry is a tricky business and would be cautious if his daughters wanted to get involved.

Hollywood isn't a good place for women.

This episode of 'Ireland's Eye' was broadcast on 25 August 1982. The reporter is Pat Butler.