Sir Michael Caine Awarded Freedom Of The City of London: How He Went From Bermondsey Boy To Hollywood (PICTURES)

Sir Michael Caine's Freedom of the City of London is the latest in a long list of honours for the Bermondsey boy turned Hollywood star.

Caine was born Maurice Micklewhite in 1933 to a fish porter and a cleaner when international stardom did not seem on the cards.

He went to Germany and Korea on national service before returning to London to fulfil his dream of an acting career in various productions.

Michael Caine poses for a portrait circa 1960

After several theatre roles he changed his name, creating a new identity inspired by the film The Caine Mutiny.

Following his marriage to Patricia Haines in 1954, his first film role came in 1956 in A Hill in Korea with George Baker and Stanley Baker.

His big break followed in 1964 with the part of Lieutenant Bromhead in Zulu.

Caine was reportedly disliked by studio executives and vomited with nerves on seeing the rushes.

Michael Caine as Alfie with the cast of the movie of the same name

However, his much celebrated performance was followed by a lead role in 1966's Alfie, which catapulted him to super-stardom playing a womanising Cockney wastrel with innocence and impudent humour.

In the annual British Film critics' poll, it was voted Best Picture of the Year.

Alfie also gave him his first Academy Award nomination and the New York Critics' Prize for best actor.

After his divorce in 1962, Caine married Shakira Bakshin in Las Vegas in January 1973, before the birth of his second daughter Natasha in July of that year.

In 1983, he was awarded the Bafta for best actor for his role in Educating Rita, followed four years later by his first Oscar for best supporting actor for Hannah and her Sisters.

In 1992, he was awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours, before he received a knighthood in 2000.

That same year he was awarded his second Oscar for best supporting actor for The Cider House Rules and given a Fellowship by British Academy of Film and Television Awards.

Michael Caine with his Oscar for Best Supporting Actor which he won for his role in the film The Cider House Rules

After appearing in more than 100 films, he has continued to star in some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters in later life, including Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy and Inception.

His latest offering, Now You See Me, starring Morgan Freeman and Jesse Eisenberg, is set for release in June.

PICTURES: Sir Michael Caine Through The Years...