LEATHERHEAD'S most famous resident has spoken publicly for the first time on why he chose to live in this leafy part of Surrey.
Veteran movie star Sir Michael Caine shares a 200-year-old barn conversion on the outskirts of the town with Shakira, his wife of 40 years.
And when not working on location or spending time in his Miami apartment, the 80-year-old star of such cinema classics as Get Carter, Alfie, The Italian Job and Zulu has revealed he is likely to be spotted walking the streets of Leatherhead like any other resident.
Speaking to journalist Chris Ritchie in Surrey Life magazine, the double Oscar winner said: "If I'm out for a walk down the High Street I'll wear a baseball cap and will tend to move pretty quickly.
"That way, by the time someone might think 'Blimey, it's that Michael Caine', I'm usually about 20 yards away and off in the opposite direction!"
Sir Michael – real name Maurice Joseph Micklewhite – grew up in South London's Elephant and Castle but has chosen to make Leatherhead his main residence in recent years for its peaceful, rural surroundings.
He said: "I love the greenery, and our house is quite secluded from view, so it's not like I'm really bothered about the other bits. Certainly, we were lured to the place mainly by its seclusion.
"You love the green space of an area but that generally means you can't do much when you're there, as we found to our cost. Everything is protected.
"Not that we wanted to do much, but you are governed by a lot of green belt red tape."
The annual Leatherhead Drama Festival, of which he is patron, is another key attraction for the father of two, who attends when possible to present the Sir Michael Caine Drama Awards in person.
"I love to see the new breed of actors coming through," he said. "It's all a bit different these days – they've all come from this school or that; they're all keen to thrust their showreel in front of anyone who'll watch it. But it's a popular industry, and a very exciting one, so we shouldn't be surprised at that."
Sir Michael also revealed he loved to go walking at the "very well kept" Norbury Park near Mickleham, and visiting the "lovely flower shops and nurseries scattered around" to indulge his passion for gardening.
When asked what his favourite view was, he replied: "From any window in my house, because it means I'm home, and I love being at home."
