Who is Shakira Caine - Michael Caine’s long enduring wife as he celebrates his 90th birthday

A big happy birthday today goes to one of British cinemas most renowned performers, and perhaps one of cinema’s most impersonated actors - even he himself has an impression of himself. Sir Michael Caine turns 90 today and continues to be one of Britain’s most beloved, important pop culture idols.

From his happening younger years portraying lovable cad Alfie in the movie of the same name, to his incredible quotable moments from The Italian Job and what should have happened with a set of doors, Caine has traversed the cultural changes that have occurred throughout his lifetime and still remains a beloved figure in British culture.

In his later years though, Caine became an even stronger presence in cinema; he was cast brilliantly in Christopher Nolan’s trilogy of Batman films as Alfred Pennyworth, working with Nolan once again in the world-bending thriller Inception. Younger fans of cinema may also know him for his double-agent role in the first Kingsman movie, opposite another darling of British cinema Colin Firth and Taron Egerton, pre Rocketman fame.

So as Sir Michael celebrates his birthday, we wish him, Shakira and Natasha a wonderful, joyous day.

Who, you may ask? Well wonder no more, as Peopleworld looks at his long-time companion, wife Shakira Caine, and the daughter that he had with her, Natasha Haleema. Were there issues when they married being of different faiths, and what has been the secret behind their long commitment in matrimony?

Who is Michael Caine’s wife, Shakira Caine?

Born in Guyana on February 23 1947, Shakira Baksh was the daughter of Indian Muslim parents, with her mother working as a dressmaker - an occupation that Shakira wished to partake in during her formative years, later leading her to become a fashion designer.

Life wasn’t just meant to be behind the all seeing eye of a camera lens though, as at the age of 19 her employer urged her to participate in the 1967 Miss Guyana contest, with the chance to compete in the grander Miss World pageant. She achieved both, choosing to remain in London after placing third in the 1967 Miss World contest. Her early exposure to the public eye at that stage consisted of small appearances in Some Girls Do (1969), Carry On Again Doctor (1969) and sci-fi musical Toomorrow (1970).

But it was her appearance in a humble coffee commercial that led her to meet her soon-to-be husband, Sir Michael. Caine had seen Shakira in a British television advertisement for Maxwell House coffee in 1971 and was immediately smitten with the model, calling her “the most beautiful... he had ever seen."

Call it a meet cute, call it creepy or call it a blind date, Sir Michael Caine happened to know someone within the advertising world who informed him that Shakira was indeed now living in London. The couple were married in Las Vegas on 8 January 1973 and proceeded to have one daughter - Natasha Haleema.

This would be Sir Michael Caine’s second daughter - his first, Dominique Caine, he had from his previous marriage to English actress, the late Patricia Haines.

With Sir Michael Caine from the Christian faith and Shakira Caine from a Muslim upbringing, the actor told The Guardian in 2019 about how they’ve managed to remain a couple despite their different religious backgrounds: “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."