Ben Kingsley

Ben Kingsley has been married four times and has four children. He is currently married to Brazilian actress Daniela Lavender, who he married on 3 September 2007. The couple do not have any children together. The two are known for their extensive philanthropic work especially for children in third world countries.

He is an extremely solitary person and likes to keep his personal life private. He rarely appears for interviews and avoids red carpet events as much as possible.

His demand to be called 'Sir Ben' is something well documented by the BBC, and has come under heavy criticism. The actor at one point was very particular about film credits including his title ‘Sir’. However, he has altered his stance considerably since.

Ben Kingsley was born on December 31, 1943 in North Riding of Yorkshire, England as Krishna Pandit Bhanji. His father, Rahimtulla Harji Bhanji, was a medical doctor of Indian (Gujarati) descent. His mother, Anna Lyna Mary, was an actress/model who appeared in films during the 1920s and 1930s.

He attended Manchester Grammar School expecting that he would go to medical school like his father and older brother. He subsequently went to Pendleton College (which later became Ben Kingsley Theatre). While there, he discovered his passion for all things related to acting, specifically theatre. In 1967, aged 23, he made his theatre debut at the Aldwych Theatre.

In late 1967, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and immersed himself in the world of stage acting for the next 15 years. In 1971, he made his Broadway debut playing a part in William Shakespeare's play, ‘A Midsummer's Night Dream’.

Upon gaining fame as a stage actor, he changed his name to ‘Ben Kingsley’ from his birth name, Krishna Bhanji, fearing that a foreign name would hamper his career.

Ben Kingsley made the transition from theatre to the big screen in 1972 with a role in Michael Tuchner’s ‘Fear Is the Key’; a movie based on the 1961 the novel by author Alistair MacLean.

Around the same time, he made several acting appearances in television as well. This includes regular appearances in the long-running British legal programme Crown Court where he played the part of a defence counsel.

In 1975, he starred as the distinguished British poet ‘Dante Gabriel Rossetti’ in BBC’s historical drama production ‘The Love School’. This drama series had a big influence during its time and has given way to modern day series like ‘Desperate Romantics’.

Over the next decade, he played small roles in both TV and films. This includes an appearance in the TV miniseries ‘Dickens of London’ in 1976. It is also during this time that he prepared for his ultimate role that would eventually propel his acting career to new heights.

In 1982, he played the role of Mohandas Gandhi in the drama film ‘Gandhi’. His performance as the lead character ‘Gandhi’ earned him international fame and recognition. For this role, he was rewarded with awards like the Oscar Award for Best Actor, BAFTA, Golden Globes, and London Film Critics' Circle Awards, to name a few. Subsequent to the movie’s release, he was recognized as one of the finest British actors.

Ben Kingsley has acted in some of the 20th and 21st centuries’ most admired feature films. This includes his outstanding role in the biographical drama film ‘Gandhi’. The movie was released in the year 1982 and was applauded by critics and movie goers alike. The actor’s accurate depiction of Gandhi has become a cornerstone of cinema. In the US it became the 12th-highest-grossing film of the year, whereas in India it was the highest grossing film ever at that time. For his role as Gandhi, Kingsley won an Oscar for Best actor for his stunning performance that still remains in the hearts of moviegoers around the world.

The 2000 feature film ‘Sexy Beast’ is possibly one of the actor’s more definitive roles and still draws a huge cult following. The movie depicts brutal gangster Don Logan (Kingsley) who recruits retired safe-cracker Gal (Ray Winstone) for the heist of the century. However, things quickly go badly for the duo and eventually end very violently. Kingsley’s portrayal of gangster Don Logan is destined to go down as one of the most memorable mobsters in filmdom. The movie was the inspiration for director Guy Ritchie who went on to make movies like ‘Snatch’ and ‘Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’.