Movies News

Christopher Lee's desire to make films as strong as ever

Nov 3, 2008, 19:31 GMT

British Sir Christopher Lee seen just after he received the festival president\'s award on closing ceremony of the 43rd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, 12 July 2008. EPA/Filip Singer

   Offenburg, Germany - British actor Christopher Lee, 86, known for his portrayal of Dracula in many horror films, said Monday that he has no plans to give up acting 50 years after achieving his international breakthrough on the silver screen.

'I still fell the passion to play new and interesting roles,' Lee said at a Burda Live event in the town of Offenburg in the south-west of Germany.

Lee, who achieved global fame for his portrayal of Count Dracula in the eponymous 1958 film by director Terence Fisher, will appear in four new films in 2009.

He has acted in more than 250 films, including recent hits like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

He also played the villain opposite British spy James Bond in 1974 in The Man with the Golden Gun.

'I want to play characters who add something new to my life. I want to be able to play characters I have to redefine,' Lee said.

He is currently being considered for the role of Don Quixote in a film. 'I do not have the script yet, but it would be a dream to play Don Quixote,' he said.

As Lee ages, he says he finds it increasingly difficult to find roles that suit him: 'There are just so many characters I have already played.'

He says he is still passionate about acting after many decades in the business. Lee said he was still too fit to retire yet.

   In 2009, Lee will appear alongside Irish actor Colin Farrell in the lead roles in Triage.

'I am the father of a photojournalist who suffers psychologically after returning from a crisis zone in Kurdistan,' Lee said.

Triage is a thriller that tells an exciting and gripping story, Lee said.