Shakira, Lady Caine (née Baksh; born 23 February 1947) is a British-Guyanese former actress, fashion model and beauty pageant titleholder who competed at Miss World 1967, where she was 2nd runner-up. She is married to English actor Michael Caine.
Shakira Caine | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Caine in 1974 | |
| Born | Shakira Baksh 23 February 1947 |
| Other names | Lady Micklewhite, Shakira Micklewhite |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, model |
| Years active | 1969–1975 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Miss Guyana (1967) |
Early life
editBaksh was born on 23 February 1947 in British Guiana (present-day Guyana) to Muslim Indian parents.[1] Her mother was a dressmaker, and she aspired to follow in her footsteps and became a fashion designer.
Modelling and acting career
editAt the age of 19, while working as a secretary at the British embassy,[2] she was urged by her employer to enter the 1967 Miss Guyana contest, which she won. She later earned third place in the 1967 Miss World contest held in London, where she decided to stay to launch a career in modelling.
Baksh appeared in several films, including Some Girls Do (1969), Carry On Again Doctor (1969), Toomorrow (1970), Son of Dracula (1974) and, with her husband, The Man Who Would Be King (1975). She also appeared in two episodes of the science fiction TV series UFO.[3] She auditioned for the part of the Doctor Who companion Jo Grant, alongside third Doctor Jon Pertwee in June 1970.
Personal life
edit
After seeing Baksh in a Brazilian television advertisement for Maxwell House coffee in 1971, Michael Caine became obsessed with finding the woman he considered to be "the most beautiful woman he had ever seen." From a friend in the advertising business, he discovered that she lived only a few miles from him in London. The couple were married at the Algiers Hotel[4] on 8 January 1973,[5] and have one daughter.
Baksh is a Muslim, while her husband is a Christian. He reflected to The Guardian in 2009: "My wife is a Muslim and she does Muslim stuff; I'm a Christian and I do Christian stuff, and no questions ever come up. The media view of Muslims is different from mine, which is very benign and peaceful."[6]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1969
|
Some Girls Do | Exotic Robot Observer | Ralph Thomas | uncredited |
| Carry on Again Doctor | Scrubba | Gerald Thomas | ||
| On Her Majesty's Secret Service | Extra in Casino | Peter R. Hunt | ||
1970
|
Toomorrow | Karl's friend | Val Guest | |
1973
|
Son of Dracula | Housekeeper | Freddie Francis | credited as Shakira Baksh |
1975
|
The Man Who Would Be King | Roxanne | John Huston | final film role |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970-1971 | UFO | Joanna, SHADO Operative, Waitress | all roles uncredited |
References
edit- ^ Morris, Bernadine (5 November 1989). "STYLE MAKERS; Shakira Caine: Jewelry Designer". The New York Times.
- ^ Shoard, Catherine (29 September 2023). "'I'm 90. I worry if I'm gonna make it to lunch': Michael Caine and John Standing on wives, war and feeling like the Queen". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ Webber 2005, p. 34
- ^ United Press International (9 January 1973). "Michael Caine Marries". Fort Lauderdale News.
British Actor Michael Caine married Shakira Baksh, a former Miss Guiana, last night in the chapel of the Algiers Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.
- ^ "TimeLine". www.michaelcaine.com.
- ^ Hind, John (13 September 2009). "This much I know". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
Further reading
edit- Webber, Richard (2005). The Complete A–Z of Everything Carry On. HarperCollins Entertainment. ISBN 978-0-0071-8223-7.