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Fifteen years before I became a screen actor, I was in the theatre. A lot of my work was comedy, which I loved doing. It’s harder.

Ben Kingsley

There was one titanic guiding light on the film set, and I was in the presence of a true Mahatma, in the deepest and most profound sense of the word.
BEN KINGSLEY

Film Light Profound
When I choose a role it’s either because I recognise the man, or that I’m very curious to know him. If I neither recognise nor know him, then it is better that I don’t play him.
BEN KINGSLEY

Men Play Roles
Hamlet is an astonishing intelligence.
BEN KINGSLEY

Astonishing Hamlet Intelligence
As an actor there’s no autonomy, unless you’re prepared to risk the possibility of starving.
BEN KINGSLEY

Actors Possibility Risk
When Attenborough asked me to do Gandhi it was almost like stepping off one boat and stepping on to another, even though both boats are going at 60 miles per hour.
BEN KINGSLEY

Boat Hours Miles
If I were to play somebody who ran a fish and chip shop, I would not work in a fish and chip shop for three months. Staring at chips is not going to help me in my performance.
BEN KINGSLEY

Fish Play Tank Three
But comedy I’d love to do as much as humanly possible.
BEN KINGSLEY

Comedy Human Possible
Millions of children are disempowered and we need to empower them.
BEN KINGSLEY

Children Empowering Needs
The trick is to try and justify every word on the page and make sure my character is the man who would say that.
BEN KINGSLEY

Character Men Trying
You want to know what I want? I’ll tell you what I want. I want back what Bobby Fischer took with him when he disappeared.
BEN KINGSLEY

Fischer Knows Want
I would like to make it known, on this program, loud and clear, that I would absolutely embrace with all five of my arms being a Bond villain.
BEN KINGSLEY

Arms Embrace Villain
I didn’t go to drama school because, from the first refusal I then, as I said, a couple of weeks later, was offered a professional job, where I am immensely grateful to the journey.
BEN KINGSLEY

Couple Drama Job
I honestly have no strategy whatsoever. I’m waiting for that script to pop through the letterbox and completely surprise me.
BEN KINGSLEY

Honest Scripts Waiting
You need particular note or rhythm in the symphony to be that minor key, or that sharp key or major chord. In musical terms, I try to hit the right note. But not alter the score of the music, just emphasize the note correctly.
BEN KINGSLEY

Musical Term Trying
The hierarchy of class in London was rigid. It was like a religion. It still is to a certain extent.
BEN KINGSLEY

Class Hierarchy London
Shock is shock. Your body goes into shock, regardless of it being real blood or fake blood. The mind sends powerful messages to all the various glands and secretions in the body. It’s impossible trying to act it; it just happens. It’s a very important question: no acting.
BEN KINGSLEY

Blood Powerful Real

Fifteen years before I became a screen actor, I was in the theatre. A lot of my work was comedy, which I loved doing. It’s harder.

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Fifteen years before I became a screen actor, I was in the theatre. A lot of my work was comedy, which I loved doing. It’s harder.

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Popular Authors

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