Christopher Lee and friends

From Hammer House to Lord of the Rings

There aren't many movie greats that can claim a career in the business of more than half a century.

But then there aren't many like Christopher Lee.

He's probably best known for his roles in the early days of the Hammer Horror films.

But his career has seen him work with Orson Wells, Stephen Spielberg and Tim Burton just to mention a few.

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Christopher Lee was live on Breakfast this morning.

In our especially extended programme we also spoke to Lulu and Michael Stipe.

Our entertainment section -- which is on all week -- begins at 08.35am and ends at 09.15am.

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But the 81 year old, who has notched up 300 screen credits - a record number - has been busy on his autobiography.

Lord of Misrule is the complete story of Lee's extraordinary life from his time in the Royal Air Force through to his career on the silver screen creating some of the best remembered evil characters.

The book recalls some of the highpoints of his career: He's jousted with James Bond, Obi Wan Kenobi and Gandalf from the Lord of the Rings.

For much of the time he's been portrayed as the most gentlemanly of villains, from the gore of the Hammer Horror movies to the high-tech mayhem of Star Wars.

He's also appeared in The Curse of Frankenstein and Dracula, and played the villainous Scaramanga in the 1974 James Bond classic The Man with the Golden Gun, all of which he talks about in Lord of Misrule.

A good third and more of the book is about his roots and his role in the war.

He has a strong sense of history, and fought with the RAF in Rhodesia where he gave a lift to a leopard and was chased by angry baboons.

It was once suggested to him that he become an actor. He replied by saying "What a wonderful idea". And visited Rank.

His first tiny roles in film happened coincidently with rough work on stage. Eventually learning that he was too old to be a singer, and too tall to be a conventional actor. Playing to his strengths then, he gradually more and more cool, foreign character parts.

He worked with many cinema greats from horror, and non-horror films: He loved Peter Cushing and Boris Karloff, who he says was like an uncle.

But was horrified by the death of Roy Kinnear on location with the last of the Musketeers series.

Ironically he says of Vincent Price "he was a scream," and one of his many claims to fame was playing golf with the Duke of Windsor.

He's enjoying a 'light shower' of awards for having lived so long, and been forgiven his artistic mistakes.

He's terribly proud of his role as Saruman in Lord of the Rings. He read the book many years ago, and like many fans spent years hoping for someone to make a film - but how?

As soon as he heard it was possible at last, he put out feelers to play Gandalf.

He realised soon he was alas too old - but that never stopped him parrying against Sir Ian McKellen with staves.

Christopher Lee's autobiography Lord of Misrule, Hardback £18.99, Paperback £6.99. Hardcover 352 pages Publisher: Orion; ISBN: 0752857703