Ben Kingsley

Ben Kingsley, born in 1943, British actor, renowned for his sensitive, intelligent performances on stage and in motion pictures. Born Krishna Bhanji in North Yorkshire, England, to Indian parents, Kingsley had no formal training in the performing arts, but decided to become an actor after seeing the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) perform. He began his professional acting career in regional repertory productions and with a theater group touring schools. Kingsley joined the RSC in 1967. He remained with the company for many years and emerged as a leading actor of sharp intellect and great emotional depth.

Kingsley delivered distinguished performances in several RSC productions, including A Midsummer Night's Dream (1970), Nicholas Nickleby (1980), and Othello (1985). Kingsley’s other theater work includes notable performances in Hello and Goodbye (1973) at the King’s Head Theatre in London; Mosca in Volpone, by British dramatist Ben Jonson, at London’s National Theatre (1976); and the premiere of Betrayal (1982) by British dramatist Harold Pinter.

Kingsley made his motion-picture debut with a supporting role in the thriller Fear Is the Key (1972). He returned to the screen ten years later in the title role of Gandhi (1982), an epic portrayal of the life of Indian leader Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, and won the 1982 Academy Award for best actor. Kingsley’s other acclaimed film performances include principal roles in Turtle Diary (1985), Schindler's List (1993), and Death and the Maiden (1995). He was knighted in 2001.