Michael Caine on Graham Norton: ‘I was asked once if my name is actually My Cocaine’

The actor recalled the time he was asked if he was a drug dealer
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Ben Travis7 April 2017

It’s everyone’s favourite party trick: pulling off the perfect Michael Caine accent by saying the legendary actor’s name as ‘My Cocaine’.

But it turns out the sound-alike phrase nearly got the Italian Job star in hot water once, when he was asked if he was a drug dealer.

Speaking on the Graham Norton show, Caine recalled a bash where his profession was questioned.

“I was at a party in the Philippines and the hostess was looking at me rather nastily,” he said.

PA/So TV

“Finally she beckoned me over and said, ‘Are you a drug dealer? When I said, ‘No, why do you ask?’ she said, ‘Why is everyone calling you My Cocaine?’

“You know that story is true because you couldn’t make it up.”

The iconic film star appeared on the chat alongside Morgan Freeman, with both starring in new film Going in Style.

Speaking about his own instantly recognisable voice, Freeman said he’s having to turn down fans’ most popular request: recording their voicemail.

“I am constantly asked to do answering machine recordings but I won’t do any more unless I can charge for it,” he said, adding that he doesn’t have his own voice on his personal answerphone.

“The man that installed the equipment [did it],” he said. “If you don’t know me and you get that voice you’re going to hang up!”

Going in Style is directed by Scrubs star Zach Braff, and stars Caine and Freeman alongside Alan Arkin as seniors who attempt to reclaim the pensions owed to them by the bank.

BBC One, 10.35pm

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