Ben Kingsley | Biography, Movies, & Facts

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href="https://cdn.britannica.com/00/77100-050-AA18FC9B/Liam-Neeson-Ben-Kingsley-Schindlers-List.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1398438/110350" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/00/77100-004-F5F5B353/Liam-Neeson-Ben-Kingsley-Schindlers-List.jpg" alt="Liam Neeson and Ben Kingsley in Schindler's List" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/198962-050-33760FF0/Ben-Kingsley-Ron-Eldard-Jonathan-Ahdout-House.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1398438/234538" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/198962-004-F77399AD/Ben-Kingsley-Ron-Eldard-Jonathan-Ahdout-House.jpg" alt="scene from House of Sand and Fog" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/63/198963-050-F1008F12/Ben-Kingsley-Asa-Butterfield-Hugo.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1398438/234539" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" 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class="topic-header"> <div class="d-flex align-items-top justify-content-between"> <div class="d-flex flex-column"> <div> <div> <h1>Ben Kingsley</h1></div> </div> <div class="topic-identifier font-16 font-md-20">British actor</div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-flex flex-row"> <div class="mr-10 mb-15"> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-block md-topic-tools qa-action-buttons mb-15" data-topic-id="1398438"> <button class="js-tooltip btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border pr-10 border-2" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="more_vert"></em> More Actions </button> <div class="md-more-popover popover popover-sm p-0 font-14 z-1"> <div> <a class="js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" href="/print/article/1398438" target="_blank" > <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" 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Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. </div> <div class="label mt-20 mb-10">Select Citation Style</div> <select class="js-citation-format-select form-select"> <option selected value="mla">MLA</option> <option value="apa">APA</option> <option value="chicago">Chicago Manual of Style</option> </select> <div class="citation font-serif border rounded p-15 mt-20" data-authors="The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica" data-title="Ben Kingsley" data-published-date="5 Oct. 2024" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ben-Kingsley" > <div class="citation-text"></div> </div> <button class="js-copy-citation-button mt-20 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="file_copy"></em> <span class="js-citation-status-text">Copy Citation</span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-share-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=1398438] .md-share-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="share"></em> Share </button> <div class="md-share-modal size-lg d-none qa-share-modal"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10" data-icon="share"></em> Share </div> <div class="label my-20">Share to social media</div> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle d-flex align-items-start inverted" data-value="share" title="Ben Kingsley" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ben-Kingsley" > <a class="social-icon facebook justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="social-icon x justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="x" href="https://x.com/britannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>X</span></a> </div> <div class="label pt-20 mt-20 mb-5 border-top">URL</div> <a class="font-serif text-truncate d-inline-block" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ben-Kingsley">https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ben-Kingsley</a> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-feedback-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal=".md-feedback-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="message"></em> Feedback </button> </div> <div> <button class="qa-external-website-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=1398438] .md-websites-modal"> <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 mr-5" data-icon="link"></em> External Websites </button> </div> </div> <div class="md-feedback-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom"> Feedback </div> <form method="post" action="/submission/feedback/1398438"> <div class="my-20"> Corrections? 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They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-10-05T00:00:00CDT" >Oct 5, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ben-Kingsley/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Original name: </dt> <dd>Krishna Bhanji</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Born: </dt> <dd>December 31, 1943, <a href="/place/Scarborough-England">Scarborough</a>, Yorkshire, England (age 80)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Also Known As: </dt> <dd>Krishna Bhanji</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Awards And Honors: </dt> <dd><a href="/art/Grammy-Award">Grammy Award (1984)</a></dd> <dd><a href="/art/Academy-Award">Academy Award (1983)</a></dd> <dd>Academy Award (1983): Actor in a Leading Role</dd> <dd>Golden Globe Award (1983): Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama</dd> <dd>Golden Globe Award (1983): New Star of the Year - Actor</dd> <dd>Grammy Award (1985): Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Recording</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Married To: </dt> <dd>Daniela Lavender (2007–present)</dd> <dd>Alexandra Christmann (2003–2005)</dd> <dd>Alison Sutcliffe (1978–1992)</dd> <dd>Angela Morant (1966–1972)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Movies/Tv Shows (Acted In): </dt> <dd>"Locked Down" (2021)</dd> <dd>"Spider in the Web" (2019)</dd> <dd>"Perpetual Grace, LTD" (2019)</dd> <dd>"The Red Sea Diving Resort" (2019)</dd> <dd>"Watership Down" (2018)</dd> <dd>"Intrigo: Death of an Author" (2018)</dd> <dd>"Night Hunter" (2018)</dd> <dd>"Operation Finale" (2018)</dd> <dd>"Backstabbing for Beginners" (2018)</dd> <dd>"War Machine" (2017)</dd> <dd>"An Ordinary Man" (2017)</dd> <dd>"The Ottoman Lieutenant" (2017)</dd> <dd>"Security" (2017)</dd> <dd>"Collide" (2016)</dd> <dd>"The Jungle Book" (2016)</dd> <dd>"The Walk" (2015)</dd> <dd>"Tut" (2015)</dd> <dd>"Self/less" (2015)</dd> <dd>"Life" (2015)</dd> <dd>"Knight of Cups" (2015)</dd> <dd>"Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb" (2014)</dd> <dd>"Exodus: Gods and Kings" (2014)</dd> <dd>"Robot Overlords" (2014)</dd> <dd>"Learning to Drive" (2014)</dd> <dd>"The Boxtrolls" (2014)</dd> <dd>"Stonehearst Asylum" (2014)</dd> <dd>"War Story" (2014)</dd> <dd>"The Physician" (2013)</dd> <dd>"Ender's Game" (2013)</dd> <dd>"Walking with the Enemy" (2013)</dd> <dd>"A Common Man" (2013)</dd> <dd>"A Birder's Guide to Everything" (2013)</dd> <dd>"Iron Man 3" (2013)</dd> <dd>"The Dictator" (2012)</dd> <dd>"Noah" (2012)</dd> <dd>"Hugo" (2011)</dd> <dd>"Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" (2010)</dd> <dd>"Teen Patti" (2010)</dd> <dd>"Shutter Island" (2010)</dd> <dd>"Journey to Mecca" (2009)</dd> <dd>"Fifty Dead Men Walking" (2008)</dd> <dd>"The Love Guru" (2008)</dd> <dd>"War, Inc." (2008)</dd> <dd>"Elegy" (2008)</dd> <dd>"The Wackness" (2008)</dd> <dd>"Transsiberian" (2008)</dd> <dd>"The Ten Commandments" (2007)</dd> <dd>"You Kill Me" (2007)</dd> <dd>"The Last Legion" (2007)</dd> <dd>"Jackanory" (2006)</dd> <dd>"The Sopranos" (2006)</dd> <dd>"Lucky Number Slevin" (2006)</dd> <dd>"BloodRayne" (2005)</dd> <dd>"Oliver Twist" (2005)</dd> <dd>"A Sound of Thunder" (2005)</dd> <dd>"Suspect Zero" (2004)</dd> <dd>"Thunderbirds" (2004)</dd> <dd>"House of Sand and Fog" (2003)</dd> <dd>"Tuck Everlasting" (2002)</dd> <dd>"Spooky House" (2002)</dd> <dd>"The Triumph of Love" (2001)</dd> <dd>"A.I. Artificial Intelligence" (2001)</dd> <dd>"Anne Frank: The Whole Story" (2001)</dd> <dd>"Sexy Beast" (2000)</dd> <dd>"Rules of Engagement" (2000)</dd> <dd>"What Planet Are You From?" (2000)</dd> <dd>"The Confession" (1999)</dd> <dd>"Parting Shots" (1998)</dd> <dd>"Photographing Fairies" (1997)</dd> <dd>"The Assignment" (1997)</dd> <dd>"Twelfth Night" (1996)</dd> <dd>"Moses" (1995)</dd> <dd>"Species" (1995)</dd> <dd>"Joseph" (1995)</dd> <dd>"Death and the Maiden" (1994)</dd> <dd>"Schindler's List" (1993)</dd> <dd>"Searching for Bobby Fischer" (1993)</dd> <dd>"Dave" (1993)</dd> <dd>"Sneakers" (1992)</dd> <dd>"Freddie as F.R.O.7." (1992)</dd> <dd>"Bugsy" (1991)</dd> <dd>"L'amore necessario" (1991)</dd> <dd>"The Children" (1990)</dd> <dd>"O Quinto Macaco" (1990)</dd> <dd>"Romeo.Juliet" (1990)</dd> <dd>"Una vita scellerata" (1990)</dd> <dd>"Slipstream" (1989)</dd> <dd>"Without a Clue" (1988)</dd> <dd>"Pascali's Island" (1988)</dd> <dd>"Il segreto del Sahara" (1988)</dd> <dd>"Testimony" (1987)</dd> <dd>"Maurice" (1987)</dd> <dd>"Harem" (1985)</dd> <dd>"Turtle Diary" (1985)</dd> <dd>"Oxbridge Blues" (1984)</dd> <dd>"Betrayal" (1983)</dd> <dd>"Gandhi" (1982)</dd> <dd>"Vikings!" (1980)</dd> <dd>"BBC2 Playhouse" (1979)</dd> <dd>"Crown Court" (1976–1979)</dd> <dd>"The Velvet Glove" (1977)</dd> <dd>"Dickens of London" (1976)</dd> <dd>"The Love School" (1975)</dd> <dd>"Omnibus" (1974)</dd> <dd>"2nd House" (1974)</dd> <dd>"Wessex Tales" (1973)</dd> <dd>"The Adventurer" (1973)</dd> <dd>"Play for Today" (1973)</dd> <dd>"Fear Is the Key" (1972)</dd> <dd>"Coronation Street" (1966–1967)</dd> <dd>"Orlando" (1966)</dd> <dd>"Pardon the Expression" (1966)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Ben-Kingsley"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> <button class="facts-list-show-more-btn mt-15 p-0 mx-auto btn font-14 d-block font-weight-normal"> <span class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></span> <span class="show-more-label">Show More</span> </button> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref984797"></span>Ben Kingsley</strong> (born December 31, 1943, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Scarborough-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Scarborough</a>, Yorkshire, England) is a British actor recognized for playing a wide range of roles, including that of the title character in <em><span id="ref987034"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Gandhi" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Gandhi</a></em> (1982), for which he won an <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/Academy-Award" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Academy Award</a> for <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/Academy-Award-for-best-actor" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">best actor</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="234537" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/198961-050-F4148C8C/Ben-Kingsley-Gandhi.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/1398438/234537"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/198961-050-F4148C8C/Ben-Kingsley-Gandhi.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/198961-050-F4148C8C/Ben-Kingsley-Gandhi.jpg?w=300" alt="scene from Gandhi" data-width="1600" data-height="1090" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/198961-050-F4148C8C/Ben-Kingsley-Gandhi.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1398438/234537">scene from <em>Gandhi</em></a><span>Ben Kingsley in <em>Gandhi</em> (1982).</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Kingsley, of English and Indian <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="descent" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/descent" data-type="EB">descent</a>, first began <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/acting" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">acting</a> in amateur theatrical productions in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Manchester-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Manchester</a>, England. He joined the <span id="ref987035"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Royal-Shakespeare-Company" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Royal Shakespeare Company</a> in 1967 and debuted on <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Broadway-street-and-district-New-York-City" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Broadway</a> with the company in 1971. In addition, he acted extensively on television, beginning in 1966. During the remainder of the 1970s, Kingsley acted in plays, most notably <em>Hamlet</em>. Although he made his <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/motion-picture" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">film</a> debut in 1973 in <em>Fear Is the Key</em>, Kingsley did not return to cinema until he was cast as <span id="ref987036"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mahatma-Gandhi" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi</a> in the early 1980s. To prepare for the role of the legendary Indian leader, he did extensive research, including adopting Gandhi’s habits of practicing <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Yoga-philosophy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">yoga</a> and eating a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="vegetarian" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/vegetarian" data-type="EB">vegetarian</a> diet. Critics noted his strong resemblance to Gandhi in the film, and the performance remains one of Kingsley’s most acclaimed characterizations.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="110350" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/00/77100-050-AA18FC9B/Liam-Neeson-Ben-Kingsley-Schindlers-List.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/1398438/110350"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/00/77100-050-AA18FC9B/Liam-Neeson-Ben-Kingsley-Schindlers-List.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/00/77100-050-AA18FC9B/Liam-Neeson-Ben-Kingsley-Schindlers-List.jpg?w=300" alt="Liam Neeson and Ben Kingsley in Schindler's List" data-width="1600" data-height="1045" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/00/77100-050-AA18FC9B/Liam-Neeson-Ben-Kingsley-Schindlers-List.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1398438/110350">Liam Neeson and Ben Kingsley in <em>Schindler's List</em></a><span>A scene from the film <em>Schindler's List</em> (1993), starring Liam Neeson (left) and Ben Kingsley. </span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Kingsley followed his role in <em>Gandhi</em> with such <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/motion-picture" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">films</a> as <em><span id="ref1281900"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Betrayal-film" class="md-crosslink ">Betrayal</a></em> (1983), <em><span id="ref1281901"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Turtle-Diary-film-by-Irvin" class="md-crosslink ">Turtle Diary</a></em> (1985), and <em><span id="ref1281902"></span>Pascali’s Island</em> (1988). He was nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar for his performance as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Meyer-Lansky" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Meyer Lansky</a> in the Las Vegas crime <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/theatre-art" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">drama</a> <em><span id="ref987037"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bugsy" class="md-crosslink ">Bugsy</a></em> (1991). In the 1990s he also played a child’s <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/chess" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">chess</a> coach in <em><span id="ref1281903"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Searching-for-Bobby-Fischer" class="md-crosslink ">Searching for Bobby Fischer</a></em> (1993), a Jewish accountant in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World War II</a>-era Poland in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Steven-Spielberg" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Steven Spielberg</a>’s <em><span id="ref987038"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Schindlers-List" class="md-crosslink ">Schindler’s List</a></em> (1993), and a man taken captive by his neighbor in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Roman-Polanski" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Roman Polanski</a>’s <em><span id="ref1281904"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Death-and-the-Maiden-film-by-Polanski" class="md-crosslink ">Death and the Maiden</a></em> (1994). In 1996 he starred as the jester Feste in a film <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="adaptation" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adaptation" data-type="MW">adaptation</a> of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Shakespeare" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Shakespeare</a>’s <span id="ref1281905"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Twelfth-Night" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true"><em>Twelfth Night</em></a>.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/oscar-worthy-movie-trivia" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/23/114923-131-785286EA/projection-screen-movie-theater-cinema.jpg" alt="Empty movie theater and blank screen (theatre, motion pictures, cinema)." class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Oscar-Worthy Movie Trivia</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="234538" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/198962-050-33760FF0/Ben-Kingsley-Ron-Eldard-Jonathan-Ahdout-House.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/1398438/234538"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/198962-050-33760FF0/Ben-Kingsley-Ron-Eldard-Jonathan-Ahdout-House.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/198962-050-33760FF0/Ben-Kingsley-Ron-Eldard-Jonathan-Ahdout-House.jpg?w=300" alt="scene from House of Sand and Fog" data-width="1600" data-height="1035" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/198962-050-33760FF0/Ben-Kingsley-Ron-Eldard-Jonathan-Ahdout-House.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1398438/234538">scene from <em>House of Sand and Fog</em></a><span>Ben Kingsley (center), Ron Eldard (left), and Jonathan Ahdout (right) in <em>House of Sand and Fog</em> (2003).</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="234539" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/63/198963-050-F1008F12/Ben-Kingsley-Asa-Butterfield-Hugo.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/1398438/234539"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/63/198963-050-F1008F12/Ben-Kingsley-Asa-Butterfield-Hugo.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/63/198963-050-F1008F12/Ben-Kingsley-Asa-Butterfield-Hugo.jpg?w=300" alt="Asa Butterfield and Ben Kingsley in Hugo" data-width="1600" data-height="1067" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/63/198963-050-F1008F12/Ben-Kingsley-Asa-Butterfield-Hugo.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1398438/234539">Asa Butterfield and Ben Kingsley in <em>Hugo</em></a><span>Ben Kingsley (right) and Asa Butterfield in <em>Hugo</em> (2011).</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Kingsley continued to embrace <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="diverse" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diverse" data-type="MW">diverse</a> roles into the early 21st century. For his scene-stealing performance in <em><span id="ref987039"></span>Sexy Beast</em> (2000), in which he played an <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="acerbic" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acerbic" data-type="MW">acerbic</a> over-the-top gangster, he earned a third Academy Award nomination. Kingsley garnered another Oscar nomination for his role as an Iranian immigrant being harassed by the former owner of his new home in <em><span id="ref987040"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/House-of-Sand-and-Fog" class="md-crosslink ">House of Sand and Fog</a></em> (2003). Convincing performances followed in the television movie <em>Mrs. Harris</em> (2005) and in the films <em><span id="ref1281906"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Oliver-Twist-film-by-Polanski" class="md-crosslink ">Oliver Twist</a></em> (2005), <em><span id="ref1281907"></span>You Kill Me</em> (2007), and <em><span id="ref1281908"></span>Transsiberian</em> (2008). He subsequently took supporting roles in the <span id="ref1174308"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martin-Scorsese" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Martin Scorsese</a> films <em><span id="ref1281909"></span>Shutter Island</em> (2010) and <em><span id="ref1281910"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hugo-film-by-Scorsese" class="md-crosslink ">Hugo</a></em> (2011), in the latter portraying French film pioneer <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Georges-Melies" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Georges Méliès</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="234540" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/198964-050-8EE0A196/Joseph-Gordon-Levitt-Ben-Kingsley-The-Walk.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/1398438/234540"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/198964-050-8EE0A196/Joseph-Gordon-Levitt-Ben-Kingsley-The-Walk.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/198964-050-8EE0A196/Joseph-Gordon-Levitt-Ben-Kingsley-The-Walk.jpg?w=300" alt="Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ben Kingsley in The Walk" data-width="1600" data-height="1067" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/198964-050-8EE0A196/Joseph-Gordon-Levitt-Ben-Kingsley-The-Walk.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1398438/234540">Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ben Kingsley in <em>The Walk</em></a><span>A scene from the film <em>The Walk</em> (2015), starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt (left) and Ben Kingsley.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Kingsley later appeared in the satire <em><span id="ref1174307"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Dictator-film-by-Charles" class="md-crosslink ">The Dictator</a></em> (2012), which starred <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sacha-Baron-Cohen" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sacha Baron Cohen</a>; as the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="sinister" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sinister" data-type="MW">sinister</a> archenemy of the superhero <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Iron-Man-comic-book-character" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Iron Man</a> in <em><span id="ref1177074"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Iron-Man-3" class="md-crosslink ">Iron Man 3</a></em> (2013); and as a half-<a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Maori" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Maori</a> war hero in the 2013 adaptation of Orson Scott Card’s <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/science-fiction" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">sci-fi</a> novel <em><span id="ref1187352"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Enders-Game" class="md-crosslink ">Ender’s Game</a></em>. He played the colleague of a war photographer who has lost a friend in <em><span id="ref1281896"></span>War Story</em> (2014) and Hungarian leader <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Miklos-Nagybanyai-Horthy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Miklós Horthy</a> in the World War II drama <em><span id="ref1281897"></span>Walking with the Enemy</em> (2013). In 2014 Kingsley voiced a scrofulous cross-dressing pest exterminator in the animated adventure <em><span id="ref1204984"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Boxtrolls" class="md-crosslink ">The Boxtrolls</a></em> and joined the ensemble of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ridley-Scott" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ridley Scott</a>’s biblical epic <em><span id="ref1208195"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Exodus-Gods-and-Kings" class="md-crosslink ">Exodus: Gods and Kings</a></em> as the Jewish elder Nun. In director <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Zemeckis" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Robert Zemeckis</a>’s <em><span id="ref1222820"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Walk-film" class="md-crosslink ">The Walk</a></em> (2015), he played the mentor of high-wire artist <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Philippe-Petit" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Philippe Petit</a>, who in 1974 <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="traversed" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traversed" data-type="MW">traversed</a> the space between the towers of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/World-Trade-Center" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World Trade Center</a> on a cable.</p><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Kingsley then voiced a computer-animated version of the panther Bagheera in the 2016 live-action adaptation of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rudyard-Kipling" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Rudyard Kipling</a>’s <span id="ref1231714"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Jungle-Book" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true"><em>The Jungle Book</em></a>. In 2018 he starred in <em><span id="ref1256677"></span>Backstabbing for Beginners</em>, a fictional account of the corruption scandal that plagued the oil-for-food program run by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-Nations" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United Nations</a>, and <em><span id="ref1260017"></span>Operation Finale</em>, portraying <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Adolf-Eichmann" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Adolf Eichmann</a>, a former <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Nazism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Nazi</a> officer, as he is tracked and captured in Argentina by a team of secret agents determined to bring him to <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="justice" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/justice" data-type="MW">justice</a>. In 2019 Kingsley played a member of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mossad" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mossad</a> in both <em><span id="ref1281898"></span>The Red Sea Diving Resort</em> and <em><span id="ref1281899"></span>Spider in the Web</em>.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Kingsley was knighted in 2001.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; 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Ben Kingsley | Biography, Movies, & Facts | Britannica