Michael Caine Saw His 'Extraordinary' 'Indian Wife' of 48 Years in a Commercial & Was Eager to Find
English native Sir Michael Caine once revealed that his marriage to his first wife, Patricia Haines, was doomed from the very beginning, deeming it a "disaster." By the time the couple welcomed their first child together, the union had already run its course.
Veteran actor Michael Caine was married to English actress Patricia Caine. It was his first marriage, and he was reasonably young aged 22. The pair had a whirlwind romance as they wed a few weeks after meeting.
Sir Michael admitted he was desperately in love but was way too immature for the enormous responsibility that came with marriage. Hence, he said it was a complete catastrophe.
(L) Actor Michael Caine and wife Shakira Caine at their Beverly Hills Home on Davies Drive on January 16, 1984 in Beverly Hills, California. (R) Sir Michael Caine and Shakira Caine during the GQ Men Of The Year Awards 2016 after party at the Tate Modern on September 6, 2016 in London, England. / Source: Getty Images
The duo met in Lowestoft, where Michael had found a job as a juvenile lead, and married the beautiful, yet talented Haines in 1954. Michael, considered a British film icon, said Lowestoft was a romantic city:
"I was desperately in love but much too immature for the responsibility, and the marriage was a disaster from the outset."
After saying their 'I dos,' the newly wedded couple left the city for a small flat in Brixton, where they both struggled to find acting gigs and argued about how to support themselves.
English television actress Patricia Haines pictured sitting on a chair with her hands clasped in 1966. / Source: Getty Images
Michael eventually took on a series of "soul-destroying" menial jobs while Haines pursued her acting career. On the other hand, the "Going in Style" star shared he suffered in silence:
"Meanwhile, my heart was breaking in a different way."
Michael recalled the tough years he was with Haines saying by the time she gave birth to their daughter Dominique, "our marriage was all but broken."
British film icon Sir Michael Caine captured appearing in deep-thought while wearing glasses paired with a denim jacket and a turtle neck in Toronto, Canada. / Source: Getty Images
His child was only eight years old when he decided to end his tumultuous marriage to the starlet. Haines, known for her television work, was born in February 1932 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England.
As an actress, she starred in "The Avengers" (1961), "The Last Shot You Hear" (1969), and 1970s "The Adventures of Don Quick." Following her divorce from Michael in 1962, she remarried.
The "Virgin Witch" star wed fellow English actor Bernard Kay in 1963, who had an extensive film, television, and stage repertoire. A heavy smoker, Haines sadly died from lung cancer in February 1977, just weeks after her 45th birthday. She left behind her then 21-year-old daughter and husband, Kay.
FALLING IN LOVE WITH A WOMAN ON TV & MARRYING HER LATER
Guyanese actress and fashion model Shakira Baksh in September 1971, United Kingdom. / Source: Getty Images
Haines was not the only one that moved on after her first marriage ended. Her former spouse Michael also found love following their divorce. The 89-year-old married former Guyanese actress Shakira Caine.
The Academy Award winner immediately fell in love with the fashion model when he saw her in a Maxwell House commercial in the early 1970s. Michael once joked that he had to be more persistent to get his future bride to go out with him. But ever since, they have been inseparable:
"We are never apart. She is one of the most beautiful people I've ever seen, but she is also the gentlest, kindest person."
Michael Caine and wife Shakira Caine attending the 13th Annual Whitney Young Awards at the Century Plaza Hotel on March 20, 1986 in Century City, California. / Source: Getty Images
The couple wed in 1973 and have a daughter together named Natasha. Speaking about his happy marriage, Michael told People what a lucky man he was:
"I have this extraordinary beautiful Indian wife who cooks fantastic Italian food. Things can't get better than that."
He revealed in June 2019, telling Australian host Andrew Denton how he met his beautiful wife after seeing her star in a coffee commercial.
Recalling back to that period, Michael shared: "I was at home, and this commercial came on, for Maxwell House coffee. And there was this beautiful Brazilian girl."
Michael Caine and Shakira Caine at their Beverly Hills Home on Davies Drive on January 16, 1984, Beverly Hills, California. / Source: Getty Images
From that moment onwards, he told a pal of his that they would hop on a plane for Brazil the following day in search of the mystery woman who turned out to be the love of his life:
"I said to my mate, 'we're going to Brazil tomorrow – I have plenty of money. We're going to find her.'"
Michael disclosed he called Shakira eleven times before she agreed to go out with him. He told himself that he would let it go if she refused to go with him.
"If she had said no, I'd decided, 'forget it,' Michael divulged. He noted that the happiest years of his life had been the last four decades while married to Shakira. During an appearance on "The Jonathan Ross Show" in December 2018, Michael recollected when he first saw his wife on TV:
"I saw this lady on the television in a commercial, and I fell in love instantly. I just watched her, and I said, 'that's the woman for me.'"
He later learned Shakira was not, in fact, all the way in Brazil but was on Fulham Road, which was about a mile away from where he lived.
MICHAEL TAKES HIS WIFE EVERYWHERE TO AVOID TEMPTATION
Michael Caine and Shakira Caine at their Beverly Hills Home on January 16, 1984 in Beverly Hills, California. / Source: Getty Images
Michael shared that he and Shakira try to keep their lives intertwined as a couple. They tried being apart from one another, and it never worked. He explained that they were apart for a few days and missed each other immensely in the early years of their courtship.
In ensuring they were together all the time, the seasoned movie star revealed in October 2018 that he takes his spouse everywhere with him to avoid being tempted by "beautiful actresses."
Michael Caine in a promotional portrait for his romantic 1966 film "Alfie," surrounding himself with young women wearing advertisements. / Source: Getty Images
Shakira, 75, accompanies her husband worldwide to prevent the couple from effectively leading "separate lives" by being apart. Michael noted that the obvious thing about going on location while married, with many attractive actresses around, may potentially lead to the unwarranted.
He explained when one goes away for a long time, they visit places their partners have never been, wine and dine in restaurants their significant others have never been to, and meet people they have never met.
Michael Caine and Shakira Caine during The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation's 11th Annual Grand Slam for Children Fundraiser - Red Carpet at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. / Source: Getty Images
In that sense, both parties have already started leading separate lives, so he needed to prevent things from ever getting to that point:
"So, my wife goes with me everywhere."
Michael, whose acting career spans seven decades, has appeared in more than 160 films. Speaking on the longevity of his marriage with the British Guiana native, he revealed he managed to not stray from the union.
"The Dark Knight" star said beautiful women in Hollywood surrounded him over the years but that he also had one lady at home who was gorgeous:
"In this business, you're surrounded by beautiful women, but I've got one at home. I've got one of the most beautiful ones I've ever seen, so I've never been tempted to stray."
Years ago, during an appearance on "The Dick Cavett Show," Michael said he did not consider himself a sex symbol but did admit to going out with different women as he was a ladies' man for Playboy.
Meanwhile, his devoted wife was named the Best Dressed Celebrity in 1989. Shakira said she did not like outfits that made women look anything gimmicky and preferred something simplistic, shunning high-fashion:
"I think it's an insult when a designer makes a woman look so silly. Sometimes I'm outraged from some of the things I see on the catwalk."
The ever-so-glamorous Shakira was spotted out on a romantic meal with her husband at Oswald's Club in London in September 2020. While Michael donned a navy suit, she stepped out in a shimmering midnight green dress, paired with a beaded necklace and a glittering black handbag.
BEING PARENTS & GRANDPARENTS
Michael Caine with wife Shakira Caine and daughter Natasha during the Evening Standard British Film Awards at the Savoy Hotel in 1998, London. / Source: Getty Images
Apart from being a celebrated fashion figure, Shakira is a mom, a stepmother, and a grandmother. She and Michael share a grown daughter while he, on the other hand, also has another adult child from his previous marriage.
Michael welcomed his eldest child Dominique in 1956. Unlike her parents, the 66-year-old did not pursue an acting career and instead opted to become a horse farm owner. Not much is known about her.
Michael Caine and Shakira Caine with daughter Dominique arriving at the London film premiere of "Is Anybody There?" at Curzon Mayfair on April 29, 2009 in London. / Source: Getty Images
Michael's youngest child Natasha arrived in 1973. Like her older half-sister, the former model and England's Manchester University alumni also stayed away from taking the Hollywood route.
Natasha has three children, whom she shares with property developer Michael Hall. The pair wed in 2000 but divorced the same year.
Sir Michael Caine attending the World Premiere of "King Of Thieves" at Vue West End on September 12, 2018 in London, England. / Source: Getty Images
Michael loves spending more time with his grandchildren and even decreased his alcohol intake to be there for them. The "Batman Begins" star told the Mirror in May 2021 that his grandkids
his perspective on life:
"They're my fountain of youth and have given me a new lease of life without worries or troubles. I'm completely besotted, and so is my wife."
Michael said though he won two Academy Awards and got knighted, he used to believe nothing could top that. But then everything changed when he became a grandparent, "which is better than anything."
Michael Caine pictured displaying a knighthood he received from Britain's Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on 16 November 2000 in London. / Source: Getty Images
The legendary film star added someone had told him that grandchildren fill the emptiness in one's heart that they did not know was void, which was remarkable.
The father of two strongly agreed with that statement saying that it was true. Michael is an adoring grandfather to Taylor and twins Miles and Allegra.
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