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There is always something about the villains that I’m able to play, quote unquote, that isn’t villainous.

Ben Kingsley

I think I’m more bonded, emotionally and in a craft sense, to films that tell extraordinary stories about extraordinary destinies.
BEN KINGSLEY

Destiny Stories Thinking
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
I do believe female directors, as well as our female writer, can bring out male vulnerability that some men can’t because they can’t face it.
BEN KINGSLEY

Believe Female Men Writers
You don’t go to a town to present the play and have applause at the end of it, but that’s benign conquest. It’s a glorious way of exploring other landscapes and other cultures in a very life-affirming way.
BEN KINGSLEY

Culture Landscape Other Play
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 your best friend has stolen your girlfriend, it does become life and death.
BEN KINGSLEY

Death Friendship Girlfriend Life
All the great writers root their characters in true human behaviour.
BEN KINGSLEY

Behaviour Character Roots
I think that most actors attempt to keep in touch with the child.
BEN KINGSLEY

Acting Children Thinking
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
There is always something about the villains that I’m able to play, quote unquote, that isn’t villainous.
BEN KINGSLEY

Able Play Villain
Equal partners aren’t always what we envision as being manifestly equal. Equality can come in many different shapes and sizes and combinations.
BEN KINGSLEY

Different Shapes Size
As a singer, I might have fallen among thieves. I wonder if I’d still be alive by now.
BEN KINGSLEY

Alive Singers Thieves
The camera does not like acting. The camera is only interested in filming behaviour. So you damn well learn your lines until you know them inside out, while standing on your head!
BEN KINGSLEY

Acting Camera Doe
I told myself that I would not go back to the camps as an actor ever again, that I was very frightened of wearing a yellow star. It was fear, it was cowardice, I was.
BEN KINGSLEY

Actors Stars Yellow
I don’t honestly think people know what acting is.
BEN KINGSLEY

Acting People Thinking
It is better for me to serve a charity as an actor or a voice, rather than at a luncheon being just a celebrity.
BEN KINGSLEY

Actors Charity Voice
It’s Sir Ben. I’ve not been a Mister for two years.
BEN KINGSLEY

Hollywood Two Years
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 think the cinema you like has more to do with silence, and the theater you like has more to do with language.
BEN KINGSLEY

Cinema Silence Thinking
In England, it’s now Sir Ben. Mister has just disappeared. It’s not even on my passport anymore. They’ve taken Mister away from me.
BEN KINGSLEY

Country Disappeared Fog Taken
One of the greatest things drama can do, at it’s best, is to redefine the words we use every day such as love, home, family, loyalty and envy. Tragedy need not be a downer.
BEN KINGSLEY

Drama Home Loyalty
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

Actors Theatre Years
If the director wishes to print it, then you have a series of choices, maybe millions of choices within that minute-and-a-half, or 80 seconds, or 2 minutes or however long or short the take is, you have all those choices committed to celluloid. I find that absolutely thrilling.
BEN KINGSLEY

Choices Long Wish
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
There have not been any troughs as regards my work. There’s never been a trough of my assurance.
BEN KINGSLEY

Assurance Regard Trough
There are some directors, lesser in confidence or skill, who make the actor feel very uncomfortable because you feel you’re auditioning for them, every day, and that’s a terrible feeling on the set.
BEN KINGSLEY

Director Feelings Skills
I’ve met quite a number of people in my career, but I do have an extraordinary memory. And even though they may drift into the periphery of my memory, I can bring them right back when I need them.
BEN KINGSLEY

Careers Memories Numbers

There is always something about the villains that I’m able to play, quote unquote, that isn’t villainous.

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There is always something about the villains that I’m able to play, quote unquote, that isn’t villainous.

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