Joe Cole wanted to "do [his] own thing" with 'The Ipcress File'.
Joe Cole wanted to do his own thing
The 33-year-old actor was determined to try something new and give a different take on his character in ITV's new drama.
During a webinar about the show's release, he shared: "I saw it as a fantastic opportunity. It was just a fantastic opportunity to do something different and I try to avoid as much of Michael Caine's stuff from before and do my own thing with it."
The 88-year-old actor played British spy Harry Palmer in the 1965 film, which was based on Len Deighton's novel 'The IPCRESS File'.
Joe read the book and watched the movie before he played the part - but he was determined to bring something new to the role.
He said: "I had a look at the book. I watched one of the films, but then I quickly realised that I just didn't want to ... I wanted to put my own spin on it and didn't want to be kind of [copying him],
"When I watched the movie, I started worrying that I was going to start trying to do a Michael Caine impersonation without actually realising I was doing it, because he is so iconic, and because he has such a presence and personality on screen."
Joe previously admitted to "getting into trouble" during his younger years, and his off-screen troubles nearly derailed his career.
The actor - who is best known for playing John Shelby in 'Peaky Blinders' - recalled: "I wasn’t focusing on what I should have been focusing on.
"When you’re a teenager, you’re figuring out your place in the world, and for me, it was in my head that if I didn’t go to university, I was some sort of failure, and that I wouldn’t amount to very much in this life."
Tagged in Sir Michael Caine