View source for Ben Kingsley

{{Short description|English actor (born 1943)}}
{{distinguish|Kingsley Ben-Adir}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix   = [[Sir]]
| honorific_suffix   = [[Padma Shri|PS]]
| name               = Ben Kingsley
| image              = Ben Kingsley by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| alt                = Kingsley looking towards a camera and smiling
| caption            = Sir Ben Kingsley in 2014
| birth_name         = Krishna Pandit Bhanji
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1943|12|31|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Snainton]], [[North Riding of Yorkshire]], England
| awards             = [[List of awards and nominations received by Ben Kingsley|Full list]]
| works              = [[Ben Kingsley on screen and stage|Full list]]
| occupation         = Actor
| years_active       = 1966–present
| spouse             = {{ubl|{{marriage|[[Angela Morant]]|1966|1976|end=div}}|{{marriage|[[Alison Sutcliffe]]|1978|1992|end=div}}|{{marriage|Alexandra Christmann|2003|2005|end=div}}|{{marriage|[[Daniela Lavender]]|3 September 2007}}}}
| children           = 4, including [[Ferdinand Kingsley]]
| signature          = [[File:Ben Kingsley signature.svg|80px]]
}}
'''Sir Ben Kingsley''' (born '''Krishna Pandit Bhanji'''; 31 December 1943) is an English actor. He has received  accolades throughout his career spanning five decades, including an [[Academy Award]], a [[British Academy Film Award|BAFTA Award]], a [[Grammy Award]], and two [[Golden Globe Awards]] as well as nominations for four [[Primetime Emmy Awards]] and two [[Laurence Olivier Awards]]. Kingsley was appointed [[Knight Bachelor]] in 2002 for services to the British film industry.<ref name="Knighthood">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1880730.stm |title=Sir Ben: Knighthood beats Oscar |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=13 March 2013}}</ref> He was awarded a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] in 2010<ref name="WalkofFame"/> and received the [[Britannia Awards|Britannia Award]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bafta.org/los-angeles/britannia-awards/features/the-britannia-awards-kathryn-bigelow-and-sir-ben-kingsley |title=The Britannia Awards: Kathryn Bigelow and Sir Ben Kingsley|date=30 July 2013|publisher= Bafta|access-date= 26 June 2015}}</ref>

Born to an English mother and an Indian [[Gujarati people|Gujarati]] father with roots in [[Jamnagar]], Kingsley began his career in theatre, joining the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] in 1967 and spending the next 15 years appearing mainly on stage. His starring roles included productions of ''[[As You Like It]]'' (his [[West End theatre|West End]] debut for the company at the [[Aldwych Theatre]] in 1967), ''[[Much Ado About Nothing]]'', ''[[Richard III (play)|Richard III]]'', ''[[The Tempest]]'', ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'', ''[[Hamlet]]'' and ''[[The Merry Wives of Windsor]]''. Also known for his television roles, he received four [[Primetime Emmy Award]] nominations for his performances in ''[[Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story]]'' (1989), ''[[Joseph (1995 film)|Joseph]]'' (1995), ''[[Anne Frank: The Whole Story]]'' (2001), and ''[[Mrs. Harris]]'' (2006).

In film, Kingsley is known for his starring role as [[Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi|Mahatma Gandhi]] in [[Richard Attenborough]]'s ''[[Gandhi (film)|Gandhi]]'' (1982), for which he subsequently won the [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] and [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role]]. For his portrayal of [[Itzhak Stern]] in [[Steven Spielberg]]'s ''[[Schindler's List]]'' (1993), he received a [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role]] nomination. He was Oscar-nominated for ''[[Bugsy (film)|Bugsy]]'' (1990), ''[[Sexy Beast]]'' (2000), and ''[[House of Sand and Fog (film)|House of Sand and Fog]]'' (2003). His other notable films include ''[[Maurice (1987 film)|Maurice]]'' (1987), ''[[Sneakers (1992 film)|Sneakers]]'' (1992), ''[[Searching for Bobby Fischer]]'' (1993), ''[[Death and the Maiden (film)|Death and the Maiden]]'' (1994), ''[[Twelfth Night (1996 film)|Twelfth Night]]'' (1996), ''[[Tuck Everlasting (2002 film)|Tuck Everlasting]]'' (2002), ''[[Elegy (film)|Elegy]]'' (2008), ''[[Shutter Island (film)|Shutter Island]]'' (2010), and ''[[Hugo (film)|Hugo]]'' (2011).

Kingsley played the character of [[Trevor Slattery]] in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]], appearing in ''[[Iron Man 3]]'' (2013), ''[[Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings]]'' (2021), and the upcoming [[Disney+]] series ''[[Wonder Man (miniseries)|Wonder Man]]''. He also acted in the blockbusters ''[[Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (film)|Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time]]'' (2010), and ''[[Ender's Game (film)|Ender's Game]]'' (2013). Kingsley lent his voice to the films ''[[The Boxtrolls]]'' (2014), and ''[[The Jungle Book (2016 film)|The Jungle Book]]'' (2016).

==Early life, ancestry and education ==
Kingsley was born [[Krishna]] [[Pandit]] Bhanji on 31 December 1943, in [[Snainton|Snainton, North Riding of Yorkshire]].<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.23178|title=Kingsley, Sir Ben, (born 31 Dec. 1943), actor|journal=[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]]|year=2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Steele |first=Francesca |date=19 April 2014 |title=Ferdinand Kingsley interview: 'Yeah, but mum's dad was totally bald too!' |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/2014/04/the-actor-ferdinand-kingsley-worries-about-going-bald/ |newspaper=[[The Spectator]] |access-date=27 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pg4y9|title=Ben Kingsley |website=Belief |publisher=[[BBC Radio 3]]|access-date=27 April 2018}}</ref> His mother, Anna Lyna Mary (''née'' Goodman) (1914–2010), was an English actress and model, and she later gave birth to a second son called Sadru Bhanji, who later worked as a [[psychiatrist]] in [[Devon]]. She was born out of wedlock and "was loath to speak of her background".<ref>{{cite news |last=Husband |first=Stuart |date=24 April 2013 |title=Sir Ben Kingsley: 'Without a mask, I haven't got a clue' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/10000322/Sir-Ben-Kingsley-Without-a-mask-I-havent-got-a-clue.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/10000322/Sir-Ben-Kingsley-Without-a-mask-I-havent-got-a-clue.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=5 June 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Pfefferman |first=Naomi |date=18 May 2001 |title=Shoah dramas continue to compel actor Ben Kingsley |url=https://www.jweekly.com/2001/05/18/shoah-dramas-continue-to-compel-actor-ben-kingsley/ |newspaper=[[J. The Jewish News of Northern California]] |access-date=5 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Tugend |first=Tom |date=13 April 2001 |url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/searchview.php?id=6774 |title=Incidental Intelligence |newspaper=[[The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013135826/http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/searchview.php?id=6774 |archive-date=13 October 2007}}</ref> His father, Rahimtulla Harji Bhanji (1914–1968), was born in [[Zanzibar]] (now part of [[Tanzania]]) to a family originating from the Indian city of [[Jamnagar]], of [[Khoja]] [[Gujarati people|Gujarati]] descent.<ref name="Bennetts1982">{{cite web |last1=Bennetts |first1=Leslie |title=Ben Kingsley's Journey From Hamlet to Gandhi |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/packages/html/movies/bestpictures/gandhi-ar4.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=10 April 2022 |date=13 December 1982 |quote=Although born and raised in England, Mr. Kingsley is half Indian: his mother was an English model and his father, a physician, was Indian.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sir Ben Kingsley's gold turban|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/canzWkOlTVqgNWhfStHsdg|access-date=27 April 2018|website=[[A History of the World in 100 Objects]]|publisher=[[BBC Radio 4]]|quote=...[H]is grandfather (a spice trader) [...] was a prominent member of the Ismaili Koja community in Zanzibar (in the Indian Ocean). Ismaili's are Shi'a Muslims, and followers of the Aga Khan (a descendent of the prophet Muhammad).}}</ref> Kingsley's paternal grandfather, Harji Bhanji, was a successful [[spice trade]]r who had moved from India to the [[Sultanate of Zanzibar]], where Kingsley's father lived until moving to the United Kingdom at the age of 14.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bennetts |first=Leslie |date=13 December 1982 |title=Ben Kingsley's Journey From Hamlet to Gandhi |url=https://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/movies/bestpictures/gandhi-ar4.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=5 June 2018}}</ref><ref>Von Busack, Richard. [http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/03.02.05/kingsley-0509.html ''Sexy Beast.''] Metroactive movies. March 2005.</ref><ref>Pathak, Rujul. [http://www.littleindia.com/news/125/ARTICLE/1399/2005-06-15.html ''Ben Kingsley's Chameleon Characters''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927210537/http://www.littleindia.com/news/125/ARTICLE/1399/2005-06-15.html |date=27 September 2007 }}. Little India.com. 15 June 2005.</ref> Kingsley's maternal grandfather was believed by the family to have been of Russian- or German-Jewish descent, while his maternal grandmother was English and worked in the garment district of [[East End of London|London's East End]].<ref name="highbeamref1">{{cite news |last=Krieger |first=Hilary Leila |date=10 April 2005 |title='Gandhi' brings his 'truth-force' to Palestinian audiences |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-107274645.html |newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105185957/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-107274645.html |archive-date=5 November 2012 |url-access=subscription}}: "The grandmother of the knighted Royal Shakespeare Company alum spoke Yiddish she picked up while a garment worker in London's East End a century ago. "She was violently opposed to talking about this, so my poor mother was at the receiving end of a rage attack every time my grandmother was asked about her husband, her lover, whoever it was, but it's believed that he was a Russian Jew or a German Jew called Goodman", Kingsley told ''The Jerusalem Post''".</ref> Kingsley stated in 1994, "I'm not Jewish, and though there might be some Russian-Jewish heritage way back on my mother's side, the thread is so fine there's no real evidence."<ref>{{cite news|last=Pollack|first=Joe|title=He's No Stranger to Holocaust|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|date=3 January 1994|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZHcxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qHsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6244,2477398|access-date=28 November 2011|quote="I'm not Jewish," he said, "and though there might be some Russian-Jewish heritage way back on my mother's side, the thread is so fine there's no real evidence..."}}</ref> In a 2016 interview, he indicated that his maternal grandmother was impregnated by a Russian-Jewish immigrant who later abandoned her, which led her to become a "vile anti-Semite."<ref name=":0" />

Kingsley grew up in [[Pendlebury|Pendlebury, Lancashire]]. Although his father was a [[Gujarat]]i Khoja who practised [[Isma'ilism|Isma'ili Shia Islam]], Kingsley was not raised in his father's faith, and identifies as a [[Quakers|Quaker]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-32381926|title=The faith forgotten in its hometown|last=Wade|first=Dave|date=25 April 2015|access-date=23 January 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-06-19/sir-ben-kingsleys-identity-is-as-colourful-as-his-characters/|title=Sir Ben Kingsley's identity is as colourful as his characters|website=Radio Times|access-date=23 January 2019}}</ref> He was educated at the [[Manchester Grammar School]], where one of his classmates was actor [[Robert Powell]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Walsh |first=John |date=6 March 2010 |title=Sir Ben Kingsley: 'I was blessed by being a very popular child |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/sir-ben-kingsley-i-was-blessed-by-being-a-very-popular-child-1915503.html |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |access-date=7 March 2010}}</ref> Kingsley went on to study at [[Pendleton College|De La Salle College]] in [[City of Salford|Salford]], which later became home to The Ben Kingsley Theatre. While at college, he became involved in amateur dramatics in [[Manchester]], making his professional stage debut on graduation, aged 23.

==Career==
===1967–1981: Stage work and early career===
After graduating, in 1966, Kingsley was approached by music producer and manager [[Dick James]]. James, who was the publisher of [[The Beatles]], offered to mould Kingsley into a pop star. Kingsley declined James' offer, and instead chose to join the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] (RSC) in 1967 after an audition before [[Trevor Nunn]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Birthdays – Sir Ben Kingsley |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/birthdays-223xvsdfnfh |access-date=13 August 2020 |newspaper=The Times}}</ref> Devoting himself almost exclusively to stage work for the next 15 years, he made his [[West End theatre|West End]] debut for the company at the [[Aldwych Theatre]] in 1967 in a production of ''[[As You Like It]]''.<ref name="RSC"/> Further productions for the RSC included ''[[Much Ado About Nothing]]'', ''[[Richard III (play)|Richard III]]'', ''[[The Tempest]]'', ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' (starring in [[Peter Brook]]'s [[RSC production of A Midsummer Night's Dream (1970)|acclaimed 1970 RSC production]] as Demetrius), ''[[Hamlet]]'' and ''[[The Merry Wives of Windsor]]''.<ref name="RSC">{{cite news |title=Kingsley, Ben. RSC Productions |url=http://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/search/rsc_person:kingsley-ben-27077 |access-date=12 August 2020 |agency=RSC}}</ref>

[[File:Ben Kingsley.jpg|right|thumb|180px|Kingsley in Sweden, 1983]]
In the 1960s, Kingsley changed his name to Ben Kingsley, fearing that a foreign name would hamper his career.<ref name="actors">Stated in interview on ''[[Inside the Actors Studio]]''</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/1734960.stm "Sir Ben's Sexy honour"], ''BBC News''. 31 December 2001.</ref> He told 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?"<ref>{{cite news |title=Sir Ben Kingsley on his identity and new film Learning to Drive |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-06-19/sir-ben-kingsleys-identity-is-as-colourful-as-his-characters/ |access-date=13 September 2020 |work=Radio Times}}</ref> In 1971 Kingsley made his [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] debut playing Demetrius in the revival of [[William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' acting with [[Patrick Stewart]], [[Frances de la Tour]] and [[Martin Best]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.playbill.com/production/a-midsummer-nights-dream-billy-rose-theatre-vault-0000002742|title= A Midsummer Night's Dream (Broadway, 1971)|website= Playbill|accessdate= 12 March 2024}}</ref> He played Mosca in [[Peter Hall (director)|Peter Hall]]'s 1977 production of Ben Jonson's ''[[Volpone]]'' for the [[Royal National Theatre]]. In 1981 he returned to Broadway playing the [[Edmund Kean|title role]] in the Raymond Fitzsimmons play ''[[Edmund Kean]]'' (1983).<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.playbill.com/production/edmund-kean-brooks-atkinson-theatre-vault-0000008019|title= Edmund Kean (Broadway, 1983)|website= Playbill|accessdate= 12 March 2024}}</ref> He played [[Willy Loman]] in a 1982 [[Sydney]] production of the [[Arthur Miller]] play ''[[Death of a Salesman]]'' opposite [[Mel Gibson]].

Kingsley began his transition to film roles early on, making his feature film debut playing a supporting role in the British action thriller ''[[Fear Is the Key (film)|Fear Is the Key]]'' in 1972. Kingsley continued to play small roles in both film and television, including a role as Ron Jenkins on the soap opera ''[[Coronation Street]]'' from 1966 to 1967 and regular appearances as a defence counsel in the long-running British legal programme ''[[Crown Court (TV series)|Crown Court]]''. In 1974 he played Thidias in a taped performance of the [[William Shakespeare]] play ''[[Antony and Cleopatra (1974 TV drama)|Antony and Cleopatra]]'' with the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]]. He acted alongside [[Patrick Stewart]] and [[Tim Pigott-Smith]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/527270/index.html|title= Antony and Cleopatra|website= BFI|accessdate= 12 March 2024}}</ref> In 1975, he starred as [[Dante Gabriel Rossetti]] in the historical drama ''[[The Love School]]'' and appeared in the TV miniseries ''[[Dickens of London]]'' the following year.

===1982–1998: Transition to film and television===
A turning point in Kingsley's career came with the historical biographical epic drama film ''[[Gandhi (film)|Gandhi]]'' (1982), directed by [[Richard Attenborough]], in which Kingsley played the titular role of the [[anti-colonialist]] activist and peacemaker [[Mahatma Gandhi]]. The film was a critical and financial success with film critic [[Roger Ebert]] of ''[[The Chicago Sun-Times]]'' praising the casting of Kingsley in the lead role writing, "makes the role so completely his own that there is a genuine feeling that the spirit of Gandhi is on the screen. Kingsley's performance is powerful without being loud or histrionic; he is almost always quiet, observant, and soft-spoken on the screen, and yet his performance comes across with such might that we realize, afterward, that the sheer moral force of Gandhi must have been behind the words."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/gandhi-1982|title= Gandhi movie review|website= Rogerebert.com|accessdate= 12 March 2024}}</ref> Kingsley went on to win numerous accolades for his performance 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 – Motion Picture Drama]] for his performance.<ref name="actors" /> The following year he acted in the British drama film ''[[Betrayal (1983 film)|Betrayal]]'' (1983), an adaptation of the [[Betrayal (play)|1978 play of the same title]] by [[Harold Pinter]]. Kingsley starred opposite [[Jeremy Irons]] and [[Patricia Hodge]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1002203-betrayal|title= Betrayal (1983)|website= [[Rotten Tomatoes]]|accessdate= 12 March 2024}}</ref> For his performance he won the [[Evening Standard British Film Awards#1983 Winners|Evening Standard British Film Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001426/awards/|title= Ben Kingsley – Awards|website= IMDB|accessdate= 12 March 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Ben Kingsley (1990).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Kingsley at the [[1990 Venice Film Festival]]]]
Throughout the 1980s, Kingsley appeared in a variety of films, including a leading role in the [[John Irvin]] directed British drama ''[[Turtle Diary]]'' (1985) starring opposite [[Glenda Jackson]]. The film was based on the [[Turtle Diary (novel)|1975 novel of the same title]] and was adapted for the screen by [[Harold Pinter]]. Sheila Benson of ''[[The Los Angeles Times]]'' praised their performances writing, "No filmic cliches, no swelling musical score; these are no "littul peeple" who melt into each other's arms, but blessedly real people, who get exhausted and don't talk all the time."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-02-14-ca-8108-story.html|title= MOVIE REVIEW : FREEDOM MAKES WAVES IN 'TURTLE DIARY'|website= The Los Angeles Times|date= 14 February 1986|accessdate= 12 March 2024}}</ref> He acted in the [[Merchant-Ivory]] costume drama ''[[Maurice (1987 film)|Maurice]]'' (1987). The film was adapted from the [[Maurice (novel)|1971 novel of the same title]] by [[E. M. Forster]]. Kingsley acted alongside [[Hugh Grant]], [[Rupert Graves]], [[Simon Callow]], and [[Denholm Elliott]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/maurice|title= Maurice (1987)|website= [[Rotten Tomatoes]]|accessdate= 12 March 2024}}</ref> He played the Russian composer [[Dmitri Shostakovich]] in ''[[Testimony (1988 film)|Testimony]]'', and the main character of Basil Pascali in ''[[Pascali's Island (film)|Pascali's Island]]'' (1988), and went on to portray [[Dr. John Watson]] alongside [[Michael Caine]]'s [[Sherlock Holmes]] in ''[[Without a Clue]]'' that year. He was nominated for an [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]] for his portrayal of the organised crime figure [[Meyer Lansky]] in ''[[Bugsy]]'' (1991). Additional roles include the supporting character of Cosmo in the thriller film ''[[Sneakers (1992 film)|Sneakers]]'' (1992), Vice-President Gary Nance in ''[[Dave (film)|Dave]]'' (1993), and the chess teacher [[Bruce Pandolfini]] in ''[[Searching for Bobby Fischer]]'' (1993).

In [[Steven Spielberg]]'s historical drama film ''[[Schindler's List]]'' (1993), Kingsley portrayed the [[Holocaust]] survivor [[Itzhak Stern]] alongside [[Liam Neeson]] as [[Oskar Schindler]]. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Kingsley received a nomination for [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role]]. Todd McCarthy of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote of his performance, "Kingsley must act within much more rigid constraints as his trusted accountant Stern, a man who feels he must never make a misstep. Role is reminiscent of [[Alec Guinness]]' deluded Col. Nicholson in ''[[The Bridge on the River Kwai]]''; in his compulsion to do a perfect job for Schindler, he often seems to forget that he's working for the enemy."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/1993/film/reviews/schindler-s-list-2-1200434300/|title= Schindler's List review|website= Variety|date= 20 November 1993|accessdate= 12 March 2024}}</ref> Further roles include the [[BBC]] adaptation of ''[[Silas Marner]]'' (1985) as the titular character. Kingsley starred alongside [[Sigourney Weaver]] in [[Roman Polanski]]'s ''[[Death and the Maiden (1994 film)|Death and the Maiden]]'' (1994), having previously acted with her in ''Dave''.

In 1996 he portrayed [[Feste]] in ''[[Twelfth Night (1996 film)|Twelfth Night]]'', a film adaptation of the [[William Shakespeare]] play. Kingsley starred alongside [[Helena Bonham Carter]], [[Nigel Hawthorne]], and [[Richard E. Grant]]. In a mixed review, Todd McCarthy of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' noted his performance as a highlight writing, "Ben Kingsley brings some nice readings to his rather mysterious role of Feste, the commentator on the convoluted proceedings."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/twelfth-night-3-1200446788/|title= Twelfth Night|website= Variety|date= 16 September 1996|accessdate= 12 March 2024}}</ref> The following film he provided a voice in the video game ''[[Ceremony of Innocence]]''. In 1998, he was the head of the jury at the [[48th Berlin International Film Festival]] and starred in the family film ''[[Spooky House]]'', saying he had chosen a role in a lighter film after acting in roles that left him feeling traumatised.<ref name="Berlinale">{{cite web |url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1998/04_jury_1998/04_Jury_1998.html |title=Berlinale: 1998 Juries |access-date=14 January 2012 |work=berlinale.de}}</ref><ref name="Spooky House">{{cite AV media |people=Ben Kingsley |date=2020 |title=Spooky House (Extras–Interviews–Ben Kingsley) |medium=DVD-ROM |quote="I was looking at the roles that I've done over the last five, just five years. They include a serial killer, a concentration camp victim, a total tyrant, a lunatic, a man whose child dies in his arms and he takes revenge by killing the three people responsible – so I noticed I was going into some pretty dark areas, and I was pretty well carrying the moral agenda of every film I was in on my own shoulders. And given that I have a fairly wide choice most of my career on what to do next, I decided I had to do something that did not involve me being traumatized to any extent by the role. I would choose to do something much lighter – that doesn't mean any easier, it means lighter, not necessarily have the whole moral agenda of the holocaust, or serial killing, or crime and punishment on my shoulders. Just to do something that was without that particular agenda, that's why I chose this role."}}</ref>

===1999–present: Further success===
Kingsley took on the role of Don Logan, a violent psychopath and recruiter for London's underworld, in [[Jonathan Glazer]]'s ''[[Sexy Beast]]'' (2000), a [[psychological film|psychological]] [[black comedy]] [[crime film]] acting with [[Ray Winstone]] and [[Ian McShane]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sexy_beast|title= Sexy Beast (2000)|website= Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate= March 13, 2024}}</ref> Critic [[Peter Bradshaw]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' praised his performance writing, "The role of Don Logan is perfectly suited to Ben Kingsley's gifts for control and stillness. There is something a little baroque and stylised about his approach - it is arguably a little actorly and unlike the behaviour of any real villain. But it is a very funny, intelligent performance nonetheless, beautifully scripted and acted, and Kingsley tops it off with a bravura show of pure sociopathic cunning".<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/jan/12/1|title= Sexy Beast review|website= The Guardian|date= 12 January 2001|accessdate= March 13, 2024|last1= Bradshaw|first1= Peter}}</ref> Kingsley's role as Logan earned him another Academy Award nomination for [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]. A year later, he won a [[Crystal Globe (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)|Crystal Globe]] award for having an outstanding artistic contribution to [[world cinema]] at the [[Karlovy Vary International Film Festival]].<ref>Andre Deutsch (2003 ). "Variety International Film Guide". p. 377.</ref> In 2003 he portrayed Colonel Massoud Amir Behrani in the [[Vadim Perelman]] directed ''[[House of Sand and Fog (film)|House of Sand and Fog]]'' acting opposite [[Jennifer Connelly]] and [[Shohreh Aghdashloo]]. Critic Owen Gleiberman of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' wrote of his performance, "Kingsley, carrying his body like armor, sculpting each line into a bitter dart of pride, plays fierceness with a powerful tug of sorrow."<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://ew.com/article/2003/12/11/house-sand-and-fog-2/|title= House of Sand and Fog review|magazine= [[Entertainment Weekly]]|accessdate= March 13, 2024}}</ref> For his role he earned nominations for the [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Academy Award]], [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama|Golden Globe Award]], and [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead|Independent Spirit Award]] for Best Actor.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2004|title= 2004 Academy Awards|website= [[Academy Awards|Oscars.org]]|date= 4 October 2014|accessdate= March 13, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://goldenglobes.com/person/ben-kingsley/|title= Ben Kingsley|website= Golden Globe Awards|accessdate= March 13, 2024}}</ref> The following year he played a supporting role as Benjamin O'Ryan in the psychological thriller ''[[Suspect Zero]]'' (2004). Although the film received negative reviews from critics, reservations were made for Kingsley's performance.

[[File:Ben Kingsley 2012.jpg|thumb|upright|Kingsley at the [[Santa Barbara International Film Festival]], 2012]]
In July 2006, Kingsley received an [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie]] nomination for his performance in the [[HBO]] television film ''[[Mrs. Harris]]'' (2005), in which he played famed [[cardiologist]] [[Herman Tarnower]], who was murdered by his jilted lover, [[Jean Harris]] played by [[Annette Bening]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.emmys.com/bios/sir-ben-kingsley|title= Sir Ben Kingsley|website= Emmy Awards|accessdate= March 13, 2024}}</ref> Later that year, he made a cameo appearance in an episode of ''[[The Sopranos]]'' titled "[[Luxury Lounge]]". Kingsley plays himself in the episode as [[Christopher Moltisanti|Chris]] and [[Little Carmine Lupertazzi|Little Carmine]] pitch him the role of a mob boss in the film [[Cleaver (The Sopranos)|''Cleaver'']], which he turns down. In 2007, Kingsley appeared as a [[Polish American]] mobster in the [[Mafia comedy]] ''[[You Kill Me]]'', and a hitman in ''[[War, Inc.]]'' The following year he acted in the romantic drama ''[[Elegy (film)|Elegy]]'' (2008) directed by [[Isabel Coixet]]. He starred alongside [[Penélope Cruz]], [[Peter Sarsgaard]], [[Patricia Clarkson]], and [[Dennis Hopper]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1194209-elegy|title= Elegy (2008)|website= Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate= March 13, 2024}}</ref> Critic [[Roger Ebert]] wrote of the film and his performance, "Ben Kingsley, who can play just about any role, seems to be especially effective playing slimy intellectuals. "Elegy" is a film that could have been made for him, although by the time it's over, Penelope Cruz has slipped away with it, and transformed Kingsley's character in the process. It's nicely done."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/elegy-2008|title= Elegy|website= Rogerebert.com|accessdate= March 13, 2024}}</ref> Kingsley received a nomination for the [[London Film Critics Circle Award]] for Best British Actor of the Year.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/dec/19/london-critics-circle-awards|title= Slumdog Millionaire leads London critics' nominations|website= The Guardian|date= 19 December 2008|accessdate= March 13, 2024|last1= Child|first1= Ben}}</ref>

The years 2010 and 2011 contained several big roles for Kingsley. In 2010, he worked voicing a character named Sabine in the [[Lionhead Studios]] game ''[[Fable III]]'' and starred alongside [[Leonardo DiCaprio]] in ''[[Shutter Island (film)|Shutter Island]]'' (2010), directed by [[Martin Scorsese]]. That same year, Kingsley made his [[Bollywood]] debut in the thriller ''[[Teen Patti (film)|Teen Patti]]'' (2010). The following year he appeared in Scorsese's next film, the children's adventure film ''[[Hugo (film)|Hugo]]'' (2011), playing the French illusionist [[Georges Méliès]]. Kingsley's portrayal of Méliès also earned him a [[Saturn Award for Best Actor]]. Kingsley also signed on to the sci-fi romance feature ''Broken Dream''. The feature, by [[Neil Jordan]] and [[John Boorman]], was later scrapped.<ref name="Broken Dream">{{cite web|url=http://iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4283808&tpl=archnews&force=1|title=Ben Kingsley & John Hurt for Neil Jordan–John Boorman film 'Broken Dream'|publisher=IFTN|access-date=15 April 2011}}</ref> In 2013, Kingsley appeared as the villain [[Trevor Slattery]] in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] film ''[[Iron Man 3]]'' with [[Robert Downey Jr.]]'','' and as the hero [[Mazer Rackham]] in the science-fiction action adventure film ''[[Ender's Game (film)|Ender's Game]]'' with [[Harrison Ford]] and [[Asa Butterfield]]. A year later he played the Hebrew slave [[Nun (biblical figure)|Nun]] in [[Ridley Scott]]'s ''[[Exodus: Gods and Kings]]'' and Merenkahre, a [[simulacrum]] of an Egyptian pharaoh and father of Ahkmenrah, in [[Shawn Levy]]'s ''[[Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb]]''<ref>{{cite news|title=Ridley Scott In 'Exodus' Talks With Ben Kingsley, John Turturro, Sigourney Weaver, Aaron Paul|url=https://deadline.com/2013/08/ridley-scott-in-exodus-talks-with-ben-kingsley-john-turturro-sigourney-weaver-aaron-paul-572676/|access-date=16 September 2013|newspaper=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=27 August 2013}}</ref>  with [[Ben Stiller]], [[Robin Williams]], [[Owen Wilson]], [[Rami Malek]] and [[Dan Stevens]].

That same year, Kingsley would also reprise his role as Slattery in the direct-to-video short film ''[[All Hail the King]]''.

In 2015, Kingsley portrayed a [[Sikh]] driving instructor in the film ''[[Learning to Drive (film)|Learning to Drive]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Doty|first1=Meriah|title=Ben Kingsley Reveals the Challenges of 'Learning to Drive' and the Beauty of Connecting With Fans|url=https://www.yahoo.com/movies/ben-kinsley-reveals-the-challenges-of-learning-to-116565996262.html|website=Yahoo|date=16 April 2015 |access-date=22 May 2015}}</ref> He voiced [[Bagheera]] in the live-action adaptation of [[Jon Favreau]]'s ''[[The Jungle Book (2016 film)|The Jungle Book]]'' (2016), a remake of the original [[The Jungle Book (1967 film)|1967 film]] shared cast with [[Bill Murray]], [[Idris Elba]], [[Lupita Nyong'o]], [[Scarlett Johansson]] and [[Christopher Walken]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2014/06/ben-kingsley-to-voice-bagheera-in-disneys-the-jungle-book/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628052300/http://www.deadline.com/2014/06/ben-kingsley-to-voice-bagheera-in-disneys-the-jungle-book/|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 June 2014|title=Ben Kingsley To Voice Bagheera In Disney's 'The Jungle Book'|work=Deadline|date=25 June 2014|access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> Kingsley also recorded [[Paramahansa Yogananda|Yogananda]]'s ''[[Autobiography of a Yogi]]'' in book-on-tape format. In 2018, he narrated Amazon Prime's documentary ''[[All or Nothing: Manchester City]]'' which followed [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]'s record breaking [[2017–18 Premier League]] campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/All-Nothing-Manchester-City-Season/dp/B07FRNLKX1|title=All or Nothing: Manchester City|website=Amazon |access-date=31 May 2020}}</ref> and served as the voice of General Woundwort in the BBC adaptation of ''[[Watership Down (2018 TV series)|Watership Down]]''.<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Plunkett|title=Netflix Bags Global Rights for 'Watership Down' Adaptation With John Boyega, James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/apr/28/bbc-and-netflix-team-up-for-new-watership-down-production|work=The Guardian|access-date=28 April 2016|date=27 April 2016}}</ref> Kingsley reprised his role as Trevor Slattery in the film ''[[Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings]]'' (2021).<ref>{{cite web |last=Boone |first=John |date=17 August 2021 |title=Sir Ben Kingsley Confirms His MCU Return in 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' |url=https://www.etonline.com/sir-ben-kingsley-confirms-his-mcu-return-in-shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-170618 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818205536/https://www.etonline.com/sir-ben-kingsley-confirms-his-mcu-return-in-shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-170618 |archive-date=18 August 2021 |access-date=24 October 2021 |website=[[Entertainment Tonight]]}}</ref> Kingsley acted in [[Wes Anderson]]'s ''[[The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (film)|The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar]]'' (2023), a film adaptation of a [[The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More|short story]] by [[Roald Dahl]], and starred opposite [[Ralph Fiennes]], [[Dev Patel]] and [[Benedict Cumberbatch]]. The film went on to win the [[Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.indiewire.com/2022/01/wes-anderson-roald-dahl-wonderful-story-henry-sugar-netflix-1234689310/|title= Wes Anderson to Direct Roald Dahl's 'Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar' for Netflix with Benedict Cumberbatch|website= [[IndieWire]]|date= 7 January 2022|access-date= 7 January 2022}}</ref>

Kingsley has been announced as playing Ibrahim Arif in the upcoming film of [[Richard Osman]]'s multi-award winning [[The Thursday Murder Club|Thursday Murder Club]] series.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shoard |first=Catherine |date=2024-04-23 |title=Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan and Ben Kingsley set for film of Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/apr/23/helen-mirren-pierce-brosnan-and-ben-kingsley-set-for-film-of-richard-osman-the-thursday-club-chris-columbus |access-date=2024-04-23 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Filming is due to begin in summer 2024.

==Personal life==
[[File:The Children's Monologues cast (2010).jpg|thumb|Kingsley (third left) and the cast of ''[[The Children's Monologues]]'' at the [[Old Vic Theatre]] in 2010]]

=== Marriage and family ===
Kingsley has been married four times and has four children: Thomas Bhanji and artist Jasmin Bhanji, with first wife, actress [[Angela Morant]], and Edmund Kingsley and [[Ferdinand Kingsley]], both of whom became actors, with second wife, theatrical director [[Alison Sutcliffe]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Ensor |first=Josie |date=14 April 2013 |title=Sir Ben Kingsley: my Hollywood actress mother was jealous of my success |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/9991850/Sir-Ben-Kingsley-my-Hollywood-actress-mother-was-jealous-of-my-success.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/9991850/Sir-Ben-Kingsley-my-Hollywood-actress-mother-was-jealous-of-my-success.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=28 June 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He divorced his third wife Alexandra Christmann in 2005, having been "deeply, deeply shocked" after pictures of her kissing another man surfaced on the internet.<ref name="contactmusic.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/story/kingsley-admits-devastation-at-adulterous-wife-photos|title=Kingsley Admits Devastation at Adulterous Wife Photos|access-date=15 August 2007|publisher=Contact Music News|date=16 November 2005}}</ref> On 3 September 2007, Kingsley married Brazilian actress [[Daniela Lavender]] at Eynsham Hall in [[North Leigh|North Leigh, Oxfordshire]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6983562.stm |title=Kingsley weds Brazilian actress |work=BBC News |date=7 September 2007 |access-date=1 January 2010}}</ref>

=== Charity ===
Kingsley appeared in a production of ''[[The Children's Monologues]]'' in 2010 on stage in [[London]] alongside [[Benedict Cumberbatch]], [[Tom Hiddleston]], [[Gemma Arterton]], and [[Eddie Redmayne]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Children's Monologues|url=http://www.thecrossedcow.com/2010/11/16/the-childrens-monologues/|publisher=The Crossed Cow|access-date=14 November 2020|date=16 November 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227213735/http://www.thecrossedcow.com/2010/11/16/the-childrens-monologues/|archive-date=27 December 2013}}</ref> It was performed on behalf of [[Dramatic Need]], a charity that sends international arts professionals (such as musicians, artists, and actors) to host workshops in underprivileged and rural communities in Africa.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Children's Monologues|url=https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/124789|access-date=14 November 2020|website=www.brownpapertickets.com}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
{{main|Ben Kingsley on screen and stage}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|
* ''[[Gandhi (film)|Gandhi]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Betrayal (1983 film)|Betrayal]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Maurice (1987 film)|Maurice]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Pascali's Island (film)|Pascali's Island]]'' (1988)
* ''[[The Children (1990 film)|The Children]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Bugsy]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Sneakers (1992 film)|Sneakers]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Schindler's List]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Searching for Bobby Fischer]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Dave (film)|Dave]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Death and the Maiden (film)|Death and the Maiden]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Species (film)|Species]]'' (1995)
* ''[[Twelfth Night (1996 film)|Twelfth Night]]'' (1996)
* ''[[The Confession (1999 film)|The Confession]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Parting Shots]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Rules of Engagement (film)|Rules of Engagement]]''  (2000)
* ''[[The Triumph of Love (2001 film)|The Triumph of Love]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Sexy Beast]]'' (2001)
* ''[[A.I. Artificial Intelligence]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Tuck Everlasting (2002 film)|Tuck Everlasting]]'' (2002)
* ''[[House of Sand and Fog (film)|House of Sand and Fog]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Thunderbirds (2004 film)|Thunderbirds]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Suspect Zero]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Oliver Twist (2005 film)|Oliver Twist]]''  (2005)
* ''[[BloodRayne (film)|BloodRayne]]'' (2005)
* ''[[A Sound of Thunder (film)|A Sound of Thunder]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Lucky Number Slevin]]'' (2006)
* ''[[You Kill Me]]'' (2007)
* ''[[The Last Legion]]'' (2007)
* ''[[The Wackness]]'' (2008)
* ''[[The Love Guru]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Elegy (film)|Elegy]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Shutter Island (film)|Shutter Island]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (film)|Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Hugo (film)|Hugo]]'' (2011)
* ''[[The Dictator (2012 film)|The Dictator]]''  (2012)
* ''[[Iron Man 3]]''  (2013)
* ''[[The Physician (2013 film)|The Physician]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Ender's Game (film)|Ender's Game]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Stonehearst Asylum]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Learning to Drive (film)|Learning to Drive]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Exodus: Gods and Kings]]'' (2014)
* ''[[The Walk (2015 film)|The Walk]]''  (2015)
* ''[[Jungle Book (2016 film)|Jungle Book]]''  (2016) 
* ''[[Night Hunter (2018 film)|Night Hunter]]'' (2018)
* ''[[Operation Finale]]'' (2018)
* ''[[The Red Sea Diving Resort]]'' (2019)
* ''[[Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings]]''  (2021)
* ''[[Locked Down (film)|Locked Down]]'' (2021)
* ''[[Daliland]]'' (2022)
* ''[[The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (film)|The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar]]''  (2023)
* ''[[Jules (film)|Jules]]'' (2023)
* ''[[The Killer's Game]]'' (2024)
* ''[[The Thursday Murder Club (film)|The Thursday Murder Club]]'' (2025)
}}

== Awards and nominations==
{{main|List of awards and nominations received by Ben Kingsley}}
[[File:Ben Kingsley handprints at Leicester Square WC2 - geograph.org.uk - 1352183.jpg|thumb|left|Kingsley's handprints at [[Leicester Square]], London]]Kingsley won an [[Academy Award]] in the [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] category for ''Gandhi'', and has been nominated three more times: [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]] for ''Bugsy'' and ''Sexy Beast'', and Best Actor for ''[[House of Sand and Fog (film)|House of Sand and Fog]]'' (2003). In 1984, Kingsley won a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word or Nonmusical Recording for ''The Words of Gandhi'', received an [[honorary degree]] from the [[University of Salford]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Manchester|first=University of Salford|date=24 April 2015|title=Sir Ben Kingsley, recipient of honorary degree, with Registrar Stuart Bosworth|url=http://www.salford.ac.uk/__data/assets/xml_file/0010/530866/photographs.xml|access-date=25 October 2021|website=www.salford.ac.uk}}</ref> and was awarded the Indian civilian honour [[Padma Shri]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Padma Awards|url=http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php?start=0&award_year=&state=&field=3&p_name=Kingsley&award=All|access-date=10 July 2009|publisher=[[Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India)|Ministry of Communications and Information Technology]]}}</ref>

He was made a [[Knight Bachelor]] in the [[2002 New Year Honours]] for services to the British film industry.<ref name="Knighthood"/><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=56430 |date=31 December 2001 |page=1 |supp=y}}</ref> The award was announced on 31 December 2001, which happened to be Kingsley's 58th birthday.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/dec/31/news |title=Parker and Kingsley receive New Year knighthoods |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=31 December 2001 |access-date=13 June 2014}}</ref> After being [[knight]]ed by Queen [[Elizabeth II]] at [[Buckingham Palace]], Kingsley stated:{{cquote|I told the Queen that winning an Oscar pales into insignificance{{emdash}}this is insurmountable. I'm fascinated by the [[ancient]], by [[mythology]], by these islands and their tradition of story telling. I feel that I am a story teller and to receive a [[knighthood]] is really recognition of that.<ref name="Knighthood"/>
}}

His demand to be called '[[Sir]]' in film and TV show credits was documented by the BBC, to some criticism.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4732688.stm|title=Lord Puttnam dubs Sir Ben 'barmy'|work=BBC News|date=20 February 2006|access-date=1 January 2010}}</ref> Co-star [[Penélope Cruz]] was reportedly unsure what to call him during the filming of ''[[Elegy (film)|Elegy]]'' as someone had told her she needed to refer to him as "Sir Ben". One day it slipped out as such, and she called him that for the remainder of the shoot.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/news/ni0740409|title=Cruz Baffled By Kingsley's Title|website=imdb.com|access-date=29 August 2021}}</ref> Kingsley has denied accusations that he prefers to be referred to by his title, saying, "If I've ever insisted on being called 'Sir' by colleagues on a film set then I am profoundly sorry. I don't remember ever doing that and I tend not to forget."<ref>{{cite news |last=Hastings |first=Chris |date=26 February 2006 |title=If I ever insisted on being called 'Sir' on a film, then I am really sorry, says Sir Ben Kingsley |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1511466/If-I-ever-insisted-on-being-called-Sir-on-a-film-then-I-am-really-sorry-says-Sir-Ben-Kingsley.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1511466/If-I-ever-insisted-on-being-called-Sir-on-a-film-then-I-am-really-sorry-says-Sir-Ben-Kingsley.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=17 June 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
In May 2010, Kingsley was awarded a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].<ref name="WalkofFame">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10180377 |title=Sir Ben Kingsley gets star on Hollywood Walk of Fame |work=BBC News |date=28 May 2010 |access-date=20 June 2010}}</ref> In April 2013, Kingsley was honoured with the Fellowship Award at [[The Asian Awards]] in London.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://bollyspice.com/57703/asian-awards-winners-night-event|title=Special Report: Asian Awards 2013|date=18 April 2013|work=BollySpice.com – The latest movies, interviews in Bollywood|access-date=27 April 2018}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|d=Q173158|c=Category:Ben Kingsley|n=no|b=no|q=no|wikt=no|s=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|v=no}}
* {{IMDb name|1426}}
* {{Screenonline name|474377}}
* {{Charlie Rose guest|67}}

{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Ben Kingsley|Awards for Ben Kingsley]]
|list =
{{AcademyAwardBestActor 1981–2000}}
{{Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production}}
{{BAFTA Award for Best Actor 1980–1999}}
{{Bafta Award for Most Promising Newcomer}}
{{BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards}}
{{BIFA Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a British Independent Film}}
{{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{European Film Award for Best Actor}}
{{Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Actor}}
{{Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{GoldenGlobeBestActorMotionPictureDrama 1981–2000}}
{{Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year Actor}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album 1980s}}
{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor}}
{{National Board of Review Award for Best Actor}}
{{New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{Satellite Award Best Supporting Actor Motion Picture}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{ScreenActorsGuildAward MaleTVMiniseriesMovie 1994–2009}}
{{TFCA Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
}}
{{Berlin International Film Festival jury presidents}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kingsley, Ben}}
[[Category:Living people]]
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[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
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[[Category:Annie Award winners]]
[[Category:Audiobook narrators]]
[[Category:BAFTA Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles winners]]
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[[Category:People educated at Manchester Grammar School]]
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