Shakira Caine
Portrait of Caine in 1974
Born
Shakira Baksh

(1947-02-23) 23 February 1947
Other namesLady Micklewhite, Shakira Micklewhite
Occupation(s)Actress, model
Years active1969–1975
Spouse
(m. 1973)
Children1
AwardsMiss Guyana (1967)

Shakira, Lady Caine (née Baksh; born 23 February 1947) is a British former actress, fashion model and beauty pageant titleholder who competed at Miss World 1967 where she placed 2nd runner-up. She is of Indo-Guyanese descent, and is married to English actor Michael Caine.

Early life

Shakira 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

At the age of 19, while working as a secretary, 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.[2] She auditioned for the part of the Doctor Who companion Jo Grant, alongside third Doctor Jon Pertwee in June 1970.

Personal life

Caine with her husband Michael Caine in Venice, 2014

After seeing Baksh in a British 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[3] on 8 January 1973,[4] 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."[5]

Filmography

Film

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

Year Title Role Notes
1970-1971 UFO Joanna, SHADO Operative, Waitress all roles uncredited

References

  1. Morris, Bernadine (5 November 1989). "STYLE MAKERS; Shakira Caine: Jewelry Designer". The New York Times.
  2. Webber 2005, p. 34
  3. 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.
  4. "TimeLine". www.michaelcaine.com.
  5. Hind, John (13 September 2009). "This much I know". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 March 2017.

Further reading

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