Ben Kingsley

Sir Ben Kingsley (born Krishna Bhanji on Friday, December 31, 1943) is an British actor of Indian (Gujarati Hindu) and Russian-Jewish descent.

Related Topics:
Friday - December 31 - 1943 - British - India - Gujarati - Hindu - Russian - Jew

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Ben Kingsley was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England. His father, Rahimtulla Harji Bhanji, was a Kenya-born medical doctor, and his mother, Anna Lyna Mary Bhanji, was a fashion model and actress. Young "Kingsley" began his acting career on the stage at Manchester Grammar School alongside Robert Powell, but moved to movies early. It was at this point he changed his name, fearing otherwise it would harm his chances of a career. His first film, Fear is the Key in 1972, was not a success, but he later found fame in the starring role of Mahatma Gandhi in the Academy Award-winning Gandhi in 1982, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. His father's ancestors, like Gandhi himself, came from the Indian state of Gujarat and were Hindus.

Related Topics:
Scarborough - Yorkshire - England - Kenya - Medical doctor - Manchester Grammar School - Robert Powell - Fear is the Key - 1972 - Mahatma Gandhi - Academy Award - Gandhi - 1982 - Academy Award for Best Actor

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Kingsley has been able to avoid stereotyping by being cast in a variety of roles in such films as Turtle Diary, Maurice, Pascali's Island, Without a Clue (as Dr. Watson opposite Michael Caine's Sherlock Holmes), Bugsy (Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor), Sneakers, Dave, Searching for Bobby Fischer, Schindler's List, Death and the Maiden, ', Sexy Beast (another Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor), and House of Sand and Fog (Oscar nomination for Best Actor) and a role in the movie version of Thunderbirds as the Hood.

Related Topics:
Turtle Diary - Maurice - Pascali's Island - Without a Clue - Dr. Watson - Michael Caine - Sherlock Holmes - Bugsy - Best Supporting Actor - Sneakers - Dave - Searching for Bobby Fischer - Schindler's List - Death and the Maiden - Sexy Beast - House of Sand and Fog - Best Actor - Thunderbirds

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He has also appeared frequently on television, his first role having been a bit part in Coronation Street. In 1997, he provided voice acting for the video game Ceremony of Innocence, together with Paul McGann and Isabella Rossellini. He recently divorced German-born Alexandra Christmann and lives in Spelsbury, England.

Related Topics:
Bit part - Coronation Street - 1997 - Ceremony of Innocence - Paul McGann - Isabella Rossellini - Spelsbury - England

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He was awarded a knighthood in the 2001 New Years Honours list. He is famous for being one of the few actors to insist his title is used.

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