Quotes By Ben Kingsley

I think that you can fall into bad habits with comedy... It's a tightrope to stay true to the character, true to the irony, and allow the irony to happen.

The hierarchy of class in London was rigid. It was like a religion. It still is to a certain extent.

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

I was fortunate as a young actor, to go straight to the RSC, where I learned that being an actor can bring with it wonderful responsibilities.

Well, it's wonderful to be identified strongly with my work.

But comedy I'd love to do as much as humanly possible.

I've never had to turn my hand to anything for monetary gain, other than pretending to be somebody else. I'm deeply fortunate.

The many many imponderables come together when a film opens and for all sorts of reasons it may or may not succeed.

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.

When you drop your guard in films, the acting process compensates. You get lazy and you start acting.

John Lennon and Ringo Starr liked my songs. I used to write songs and they heard me sing songs on stage in London.

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.

I honestly have no strategy whatsoever. I'm waiting for that script to pop through the letterbox and completely surprise me.

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.

But filming is good for you, because the crew isn't allowed to laugh. You can't get addicted to getting the laugh.

I always try to find something I admire about every character I play.

I think the cinema you like has more to do with silence, and the theater you like has more to do with language.

I think Romeo and Juliet is uplifting. That's how much a son wishes to avenge his father. That is how much two young people can love each other.

There is so much to do on a film set. It is an extraordinarily invigorating and wonderful place to be, when things are running well.

I have a rather naive approach, I think, to my job.

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

I just loved playing a man who was unafraid of making an idiot of himself in the process of falling in love. I found that admirable.

Hamlet is an astonishing intelligence.

I think that most actors, and they're a very strange lot actors, very strange people, but I think that they attempt to keep in touch with the child.

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.

All the great writers root their characters in true human behaviour.

I'm convinced that had I not changed my name, I don't think I would have had quite the same career curve that I eventually had.

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!

Movie magic is movie magic and acting magic is acting magic.

I try and reduce myself to an almost blank slate and hope to God that I am creative.