Sir Michael Caine Doesn’t Get Drunk Because He’s a ‘Control Freak’

British actor Michael Caine and his wife Shakira arrive for the Sir David Frost memorial service at Westminster Abbey in London,Thursday, March, 13, 2014. British broadcaster David Frost died in August 2013, one of his most famous interviews was with President Richard Nixon. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

The 81-year-old actor hasn’t got inebriated for years because he is too much of a “control freak” to enjoy the experience.

During his ‘A Night Out With... Sir Michael Caine’ show at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Wednesday night (01.10.14), he revealed: “I’m a control freak. That’s why I never get drunk. I’ve been drunk, but that was before I knew I was a control freak. I suppose it’s just me, it’s who I am. I love to be outside and I love to be casting an eye over everything.”

The show featured Caine being quizzed by Jonathan Ross about his career and the retrospective included performances of incidental music and theme songs from the actor’s impressive filmography by the London Symphony Orchestra.

Joss Stone took to the stage to sing ‘Alfie’ from the film of the same name and Caine’s long-time friend Quincy Jones conducted the orchestra when music from ‘The Italian Job’ - the movie the super-producer scored - was performed.

Stars in the sold-out audience included Jerry Hall, Simon Pegg, David Walliams, the Oscar winner’s wife Shakira and his friend Sir Roger Moore.

Speaking on the red carpet beforehand, Caine insisted he wasn’t nervous and was just happy the event had sold-out because all the money raised was going to the NSPCC charity to help disadvantaged children.

The ‘Zulu’ star - who has revealed he was mistreated as a young boy when he was evacuated from London and separated from his mother during World War II  - told BANG Showbiz: “No I’m not nervous about this, they’re not paying me and they can’t fire me!

“I’m doing it for the NSPCC, my favourite charity, it’s a charity I love and I know I’m helping children by doing something for them. I’ve given more money to this charity than any other. I think it’s amazing that anyone turned up and we sold all the tickets! When they told me it was the Royal Albert Hall, I thought, ‘Oh my God!’ It’s not like playing at a theatre where there’s a few hundred seats, there’s 6,000 seats in there. Anyway we sold the seats and we'll make a load of money for charity which is why we’re here.”

When asked how he felt to be a national treasure in Britain, he laughed: “Well, you don’t know what to do if you’re a national treasure. There are no restaurants you can go to that are just for national treasures! There’s no course in it. I just live my life, that’s all.”