Michael Caine on acting at 82: 'The only alternative to playing elderly people is playing dead people'

Video: 'Youth is looking at what we've lost and what we're never going to get again'

(Getty Images)

Sir Michael Caine said he hadn't visited the Cannes Film Festival since he lost out on winning best actor for his starring role in the 1966 film Alfie.

Yet the British veteran made his return this year because of his love for his new movie, Youth.

It also helped that the 82-year-old actor is already being spoken of as a potential Oscar-winner for his role in a film where he and Harvey Keitel play two friends of 60 years talking about their lives as they holiday in Switzerland.

As Caine was holidaying himself in the south of France, he spoke to the media about playing an elderly character in the new film, and he had the best response to why he has to take on such age appropriate roles.

He also had a poignant few words about the meaning of youth: "The poster (for the film) is two guys in the swimming pool looking at a beautiful girl with no clothes on. I think that describes youth: we're just looking at what we've lost and what we're never going to get again. It's very sad."