NEED TO KNOW
- Jeremy Irons turns 77 years old on Friday, Sept. 19
- Ahead of his birthday, the English actor, who is currently starring on The Morning Show, spoke with PEOPLE about the possibility of retiring someday
- “Unfortunately, you need very old people in movies as well as very young people,” he jokes
Jeremy Irons is celebrating a big milestone.
On Friday, Sept. 19, the acclaimed actor turns 77 years old. But getting older hasn’t slowed down his career aspirations whatsoever.
“I don’t think actors ever retire, really,” Irons tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I just heard that Michael Caine’s coming back and making a couple of movies. He’d retired. But we can always be encouraged by a piece of really good material that makes us want to come back to work.”
“Unfortunately, you need very old people in movies as well as very young people,” he jokes.
Irons’ career took flight after starring opposite Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant’s Woman in 1981. His roles in Moonlighting, Dead Ringers, The Lion King, and Lolita are among the noteworthy projects that now appear on his résumé. He’s also appeared on various TV shows and in several stage productions as well.
Over the years, his efforts have allowed him to receive an Academy Award, a Tony Award, three Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards.
Given all that he’s done throughout his long career, is there anything the English actor is hoping to accomplish next?
“No, not really,” he admits. “I’m the age I am. I’ve done a lot. I look forward to waking up healthy every morning. That’s my thing now, and spending my time with people I love, and every now and again going off to work.”
His latest project, in fact, is a role on The Morning Show as Martin Levy, the father of Jennifer Aniston’s character, Alex Levy. He calls it “a juicy role.”
“I’d never seen the show! But a lot of people who I knew had and recommended it was something I really would love to do,” he explains. “And then, I watched a bit and got the feel of it and saw the pacing of it and the subject matter, and thought it was great. When I read it, I thought, ‘Yeah, that’s fine!'”
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Of getting to work with the Friends alum, Irons says, “Jen is a great, lovely actress.”
“I was very happy to go on board with it, and I’ve had a happy time doing it.”
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New episodes of The Morning Show airs Wednesdays on Apple TV+.
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