“You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off…” The distinctive tones of Oscar winning actor Michael Caine resonate from the East End of London and across the entire world. The voice, the black-rimmed glasses, the iconic roles in Alfie, Zulu, Cider House Rules, The Italian Job, and many more are resplendent of a time and style that are irrevocably associated with the silver screen.

Of the plethora of available images, artist Debra Thompson has chosen the 1965 film, The Ipcress File as the backdrop for her thrilling composition that supremely captures the spy genre of the time and an emerging actor holding dominion over his craft.

If mimicry is the sincerest form of flattery, then Michael Caine would occupy the pinnacle of such a category. His distinctive voice easily takes up residence in our minds, a sensation that is brilliantly captured in this painting. Through this lens we are witness to his life as performance. We appear to be in his sights, yet this composition reflects that it is he who is in ours.