Sir Michael Caine has blasted the new generation of actors, who he feels are more concerned with advancing their celebrity status than working on their technique.
The veteran actor - who made his film debut in the late 1950s, eventually getting his first BAFTA nomination in 1965 - made the remarks during a reception for British Academy Award winners over the weekend.
He told The Telegraph: “These days they just say I'm going to be an actor because I want to be rich and famous. And then they do a little part on television and everyone knows who they are. They can't really act.
Sir Michael also expressed concerns that so many stars were becoming household names before they’re really ready for the pressures of fame, lamenting: “They're very young now. I was 30 before I became well known. I've watched it ruin people. By the time they're 30, they're through.”
Similarly, Emma Thompson commented that film studios were more interested in celebrities than talented actors, telling the newspaper: “We're casting actors who have big followings so the studios can use their followings to sell their movie.”
This comes after designer Calvin Klein made similar comments about the fashion industry, after Kendall Jenner became the new face of the brand bearing his name.
He claimed last month: “Now models are paid for how many followers they have. They’re booked not because they represent the essence of the designer, which is what I tried to do - they’re booked because of how many followers they have online.”
