Gene Hackman has retired from acting to concentrate on being an author.

The two-time Oscar winner said he has no plans to make another movie following the publication of his third historical novel Escape From Andersonville.

He is quoted as saying: "I haven't worked in acting for four years now, so I guess you'd call it retirement... and I don't miss the business."

He added that he has changed his policy of not reading reviews since embarking on his new career, saying: "I never read reviews of the films I've done but I read reviews of the books. I'm a neophyte at this and I want some kind of reinforcement that I should continue."

The 78-year-old previously said he has no desire to play "grandfathers or doddering old men".