Quotes By Ben Kingsley

There's so much crap talked about acting.

If your best friend has stolen your girlfriend, it does become life and death.

The trick is to try and justify every word on the page and make sure my character is the man who would say that.

I do remember, as a child, that I always imagined, when I was maybe 6 or 7, my fantasy was that everywhere I went I was being followed by an invisible film crew.

In cinema, the leading player is the director.

I think that all of us either lose touch with the child inside us or try and hold onto it because it so precious to us and it's such an extraordinary part of our lives.

If I were to play somebody who ran a fish and chip shop, I would not work in a fish and chip shop for three months. Staring at chips is not going to help me in my performance.

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

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.

I think if I were to go back on stage I might be in great danger of acting.

I'm very in love with the fact that the camera is revolted by acting and loves behaviour.

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

I think that various styles and methods and approaches are an invention of people who don't understand the process of acting and who try very hard to label things.

I don't honestly think people know what acting is.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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.