Arise Sir Christopher Lee (photos)

Actor News - 31-10-09

Dracula star Sir Christopher Lee was knighted by the Prince of Wales and hailed the Hammer horror movies that made his name - reports the Telegraph.

The prolific actor famed for his spine-chilling roles as Count Dracula and other dark characters said he would always be grateful to the studio that made his name.



Lee, who was knighted by Charles at a Buckingham Palace investiture ceremony, has appeared in more than 250 films and television productions and was honoured for services to drama and to charity.

The 87-year-old movie star was dressed in a morning suit for the event and walked with the aid of a stick after receiving treatment for a back injury he sustained during a fall.

After the ceremony Lee said he would not divulge what the Prince had said to him after being knighted but said the heir to the throne was ''extremely complimentary'' adding: ''He couldn't have been nicer and was very easy to talk to.''



Talking about his days with the Hammer Horror studios in the 1950s and 1960s he said: ''I've always been grateful for the opportunity to play characters, it happened to be for that company which made me not always a face but a name all over the world which was extremely important at that time.''

Lee became known for his blood-curdling performances opposite Peter Cushing in the Hammer movies but admitted he had become typecast by the end of the 1960s.

He added that his role in the 1970 movie The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes was a turning point and allowed him to branch out.

''Since then I've never been typecast although I've played a lot of bad guys, there's more scope than being the man in the white hat,'' he said.



Hammer has been resurrected in recent years and Lee has recently finished filming his latest movie The Resident starring Hilary Swank who he praised.

''Hilary is terrific, she's absolutely charming and a wonderful actress and the film is extremely well done.''

The veteran actor, who was knighted on the eve of Halloween, joked: "I've done a lot of films that have become iconic, not necessarily because of me."

These include The Wicker Man, which the actor is proud of as the writer Anthony Shaffer created the part of Lord Summerisle for him, and the villain Scaramanga in the James Bond movie The Man With The Golden Gun.

One of his favourite roles was depicting the founder of Pakistan Mohammed Ali Jinnah in the 1998 movie Jinnah.

Lee added: "A whole new career opened up for me when I was in Lords Of The Rings and Star Wars.

"What's really important for me is, as an old man, I'm known by my own generation and the next generation know me too."

His prolific career has seen him earn several Guinness World Records, including Most Connected Actor Living; Most Films With A Swordfight By An Actor and Tallest Actor In A Leading Role (Lee is a lofty 6ft 5in).

The actor joked about his time in the movie industry and held up his right hand to show his crooked little finger.

He joked: "That was done in a sword fight with Errol Flynn - after lunch. It nearly came off."



The 87-year-old also criticised modern horror movies that show "blood and gore and mutilation".

He said: "It's what you don't see that keeps you on the edge of your seat in any kind of film - leave it to the imagination of the viewer."

Thanks to `Max-Zorin` for the alert.

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Earlier Story: Madeline Smith talks about her time in Hammer Horror and about being a Bond girl

Later Story: Daniel Craig and Satsuki Mitchell help orphans worldwide

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