Michael Caine is without doubt one of the most iconic and instantly recognisable actors in cinematic history, having appeared in classics set almost fifty years apart from each other. In the sixties, it was often his fashion sense which got him immediately noticed whether on the screen on not, frequently sporting distinctively thick-rimmed black glasses long before hipsters claimed them as their own. And throughout his entire career, his accent and delivery has been a feature which is immediately recognisable about him. However, it is also his name which has done his status a great deal of benefit. "Michael Caine" is quite simply much snappier and grittier sounding than his birth name, Maurice Micklewhite. The added grit will have been a necessity for a man who would go on to star as hardened criminals in films such as The Italian Job and Get Carter. Furthermore, you can't quite imagine the infamous (if not actually his own) catchphrase "My name is Michael Caine", working quite so well with the mouthful that is his actual name.
