Ben Kingsley

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22 Feb 2024

Ben Kingsley

Sir Ben Kingsley, born Krishna Pandit Bhanji on December 31, 1943, is a distinguished English actor with a career spanning over five decades. He has received numerous prestigious awards, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Grammy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. In recognition of his contributions to the British film industry, Kingsley was knighted in 2002. Additionally, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010 and received the Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Filmed Entertainment in 2013.

Kingsley began his career in theater, joining the esteemed Royal Shakespeare Company in 1967. Over the next 15 years, he garnered acclaim for his performances on stage, starring in productions such as "As You Like It," "Much Ado About Nothing," "Richard III," "The Tempest," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Hamlet," and "The Merry Wives of Windsor." He also made notable contributions to television, earning four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his roles in various productions.

In film, Kingsley is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi in Richard Attenborough's "Gandhi" (1982), a performance that earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor and a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. He also received critical acclaim for his role as Itzhak Stern in Steven Spielberg's "Schindler's List" (1993), earning a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Kingsley's impressive filmography includes roles in "Maurice" (1987), "Bugsy" (1990), "Sexy Beast" (2000), "House of Sand and Fog" (2003), "Elegy" (2008), "Shutter Island" (2010), and "Hugo" (2011).

In addition to his dramatic roles, Kingsley has ventured into the realm of blockbuster films and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, portraying Trevor Slattery in "Iron Man 3" (2013) and "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" (2021). He has also lent his talents to other major films, including "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" (2010) and "Ender's Game" (2013). Furthermore, Kingsley has showcased his voice acting skills in animated films such as "The Boxtrolls" (2014) and "The Jungle Book" (2016).
Throughout his illustrious career, Sir Ben Kingsley has demonstrated remarkable versatility and talent, solidifying his status as one of the most respected actors in the industry.

Sir Ben Kingsley, originally named Krishna Pandit Bhanji, was born on December 31, 1943, in Snainton, North Riding of Yorkshire. His mother, Anna Lyna Mary, was an English actress and model, while his father, Rahimtulla Harji Bhanji, hailed from Zanzibar and had roots in the Indian city of Jamnagar, belonging to the Khoja Gujarati community.

Kingsley's paternal grandfather, Harji Bhanji, was a prosperous spice trader who moved from India to Zanzibar. Kingsley's father lived in Zanzibar until he relocated to the United Kingdom at the age of 14. On the maternal side, there were beliefs of Russian- or German-Jewish ancestry in Kingsley's family. His maternal grandmother was English and worked in London's East End garment district.

Kingsley's upbringing took place in Pendlebury, Lancashire. Despite his father being a Gujarati Khoja practicing Isma'ili Shia Islam, Kingsley was not raised in his father's faith and identifies as a Quaker. He attended the Manchester Grammar School, where he became classmates with actor Robert Powell. Subsequently, Kingsley continued his education at De La Salle College in Salford, which later housed The Ben Kingsley Theatre. During his college years, he engaged in amateur dramatics in Manchester, marking his professional stage debut at the age of 23 upon graduation.

After completing his education, Kingsley faced a pivotal moment in 1966 when he was approached by Dick James, a music producer and manager known for his association with The Beatles. James offered to groom Kingsley into a pop star, leveraging his connections in the music industry. However, Kingsley made the significant decision to decline James' offer. Instead, he opted to pursue a career in acting and joined the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in 1967 following a successful audition with director Trevor Nunn.

For the next 15 years, Kingsley dedicated himself primarily to stage work, honing his craft and building his reputation as a versatile actor. He made his West End debut for the RSC at the Aldwych Theatre in 1967 in a production of Shakespeare's "As You Like It." His tenure with the RSC included notable performances in productions such as "Much Ado About Nothing," "Richard III," "The Tempest," "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (where he starred as Demetrius in Peter Brook's acclaimed 1970 production), "Hamlet," and "The Merry Wives of Windsor."

During this time, in the 1960s, Kingsley made the decision to change his name from Krishna Bhanji to Ben Kingsley, believing that a more Western-sounding name would enhance his prospects in the industry. Reflecting on this decision, Kingsley remarked to the Radio Times, "As soon as I changed my name, I got the jobs. I had one audition as Krishna Bhanji and they said, 'Beautiful audition but we don't quite know how to place you in our forthcoming season.' I changed my name, crossed the road, and they said when can you start?"

Kingsley's talent and dedication led to significant roles, including portraying Mosca in Peter Hall's 1977 production of Ben Jonson's "Volpone" for the Royal National Theatre. He also starred as Willy Loman in a 1982 Sydney production of Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman," opposite Mel Gibson.

Ben Kingsley's transition to film roles began early in his career, with his first film appearance in "Fear Is the Key" in 1972. He continued to balance both film and television work, including a stint as Ron Jenkins on the soap opera "Coronation Street" from 1966 to 1967 and recurring appearances as a defense counsel in the British legal program "Crown Court." Kingsley also portrayed Dante Gabriel Rossetti in the historical drama "The Love School" in 1975 and featured in the TV miniseries "Dickens of London" the following year.

However, it was his portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi in the biographical film "Gandhi" (1982) that marked a turning point in Kingsley's career. Directed by Richard Attenborough, the film was both a critical and commercial success. Kingsley's performance as Gandhi earned him widespread acclaim and numerous accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Actor, the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama.

Throughout the 1980s, Kingsley took on a variety of roles in films such as "Turtle Diary" (1985) and "Maurice" (1987), as well as portraying Basil Pascali in "Pascali's Island" (1988) and Dr. John Watson in "Without a Clue" (1988). He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Meyer Lansky in "Bugsy" (1991) and appeared in other notable films like "Sneakers" (1992) and "Dave" (1993).

In Steven Spielberg's acclaimed film "Schindler's List" (1993), Kingsley portrayed Holocaust survivor Itzhak Stern, earning further praise for his performance. He also starred in the BBC adaptation of "Silas Marner" (1985) and appeared in "Death and the Maiden" (1994) alongside Sigourney Weaver.

Kingsley's diverse career also extended to voice work, as seen in his participation in the video game "Ceremony of Innocence" (1997). He served as the head of the jury at the 48th Berlin International Film Festival in 1998 and starred in the family film "Spooky House" that same year, opting for a lighter role after previous projects had left him feeling emotionally drained.