Depardieu has nothing left to prove

PARIS, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- French superstar Gerard Depardieu says he has nothing left to prove at age 56 and is winding down his film career.

Depardieu -- who made his film debut in 1967 -- told Le Parisien he did not want to "hang on like an idiot," the BBC reported Monday.

On the set of "Michou d'Auber," Depardieu said he was "in the process of stopping filming."

"I have nothing to lose," he said. "I have made 170 films. I have nothing left to prove."

Depardieu had heart bypass surgery five years ago and has been expanding his interests -- buying vineyards in France, Spain, Morocco and Argentina, as well as two Paris restaurants and writing a cookbook.

His agent said the actor's talk about quitting films altogether should not be taken at face value, but would most likely be working less in years to come.