A couple of years ago, I co-authored a book on Shakespeare. To do that and to do my day job, I had to wake up early (laughs), so when the book was over, I looked at something else to keep me busy. That was the genesis of the more recent one.
After Cabaret for example, I was offered a lot of introspective poetry work, but I ended up doing Musketeers, something more testosterone driven.
Every role I've played, that could've happened. It's nice, it happens, but it is rather disconcerting when a young child comes up to at the airport and starts doing your lines, it happens.
I always go by instinct. I have been a freelance my whole career, and I always go by my instincts, and thus remain responsible for my own decisions.
I could not get the two houses to agree on one title for my book, so I said 'whichever one you want.' It's fine with me.
I had been in a film, playing a young British aristocrat. My wife told me that she was invited to a dinner and she invited me to dinner and the hostess had seen me and said, 'You cannot bring him.' but I think that I've done enough to shatter the image.
I happen to love working in cinema, but the theater is always there... you know, and I would never shut the door on it. Even though it's been quite a bit of time since I've done a play, last one was in New York.
I think it's hard to know. Feeling fulfilled, because actors face periods of unemployment, there is nothing worse than being at the top of your game; you have so much to give but do not have the platform to do this.
I think that you have to believe in your destiny; that you will succeed, you will meet a lot of rejection and it is not always a straight path, there will be detours - so enjoy the view.
I've always enjoyed writing, I graduated with a degree in English; I've done bits of journalism.
It's a question of why they come for your advice. Whatever I tell you, it doesn't matter, it is completely irrelevant in a way. I know so many actors who were discouraged and put that aside. You will get half-baked opinions.
It's not like you are a rock star and your freedom is infringed upon, but it's just nice. Especially in the movies when you are working in the dark.
Mike gets to play four roles this time, if we ever did it again, he will play my role as well. He is a comic genius, everyone wants to be in this movie, let's hope that everyone will wish to see it as well.
Monty Pythons were my contemporaries at Oxford. And they took that university wit and universalized it.
So that is how I ended up with those two titles, I like Accidentally on Purpose better - it is how we work in our trade - is it really an accident, or is there a thread of destiny in there? That was the intention, I am not sure I found out.
That's why I have always kept myself busy with other things, I have written books, lectured, they fit in easily in those times.
The great thing about university is that they incline you to get up and do it, from the Classics to modern plays, to the humor that Monty Pythons made popular.
They sent me the script and I thought that there was something very appealing and funny about it. Also, I was familiar with Mike Myers' work in Saturday Night Live, but I did not know the extent to which he would make this creation.
Who knew two films ago that this would turn into a cultural icon? It's great that it did and we just released the third one.
He also lectures internationally -- on Shakespeare, the poetry of Rudyard Kipling and the history and art of acting.
Although he and Michael Caine have both appeared in over 100 films on both sides of the Atlantic since the 1960s, the only film in which they both appear is Austin Powers in Goldmember.
In 2000, Michael received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Temecula Valley International Film Festival.
In 2002, Michael won the Town of Karlovy Vary Award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
In 2001, Michael was nominated for the Video Premiere Award for Best Animated Character Performance for: The Land Before Time VII: The Stone of Cold Fire (2000).
Michael supplied the voiceover for the TV commercial for Taco Bell in 2002.
Michael wrote the acting manual A Shakespearean Actor Prepares, which was published in 2001.
Michael appeared in the music video for Madonna's song "Beautiful Stranger."
Michael York: If you want to do it, then forget about it. If you have to do it, then no one you talk to or seek advice from will make any difference. (when told by Angelo Evangelatos that he wanted to be an actor.)
Michael is a good friend and mentor to actor Casper Van Dien. He is also a lifelong friend of Casper's wife Catherine Oxenberg.
Michael is the stepfather of producer Rick McCallum.
Michael is 5' 11" (1.80 m) tall.
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