Ben Kingsley talks returning to the MCU with Wonder Man, his connection to the Beatles and revering Queen Elizabeth II

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Sir Ben Kingsley is a highly acclaimed actor, considered one of the best of his generation. He won an Academy Award for his role in ‘Gandhi’ and has also received many other prestigious awards, including a Bafta, Golden Globe, and Olivier Award. He’s collaborated with renowned directors like Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg throughout his career.

He’s well-known for roles like Itzhak Stern in Schindler’s List and Don Logan in Sexy Beast. Now, he’s joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the satirical film Wonder Man, where he plays the character Trevor Slattery.

So, who is Trevor Slattery?

I’ve always been fascinated by Trevor. He’s a struggling actor who never really got his big break, and his story is just wild. After a strange turn where he ended up pretending to be a villain in ‘Iron Man 3,’ he was thrown in jail, then dramatically rescued! Now he’s back in Los Angeles, hoping to reinvent himself and be taken seriously as an actor. What’s amazing to me is that I’ve now played Trevor four times, and it’s a role I never imagined would become such a significant part of my career, spanning fifteen years!

I’ve always been fascinated by Freddie Mercury’s story, and learning about his beginnings is so interesting. He was born Krishna Pandit Bhanji back in 1943, and his background is quite unique! His father was a doctor, originally from Gujarat in India, and his mother was a beautiful English actress and model. I’m always curious about how such different worlds collided – how did his parents actually meet?

I believe my mother attended a Guy’s Hospital dance, where my dad was training.

You changed your name to Ben Kingsley; how did you decide on that?

My father was known as Ben, and my son Kingsley’s name comes from him. My grandfather, Ben’s father, traded spices in Zanzibar and was nicknamed King Clove.

When you were young, a trip to see the Italian film Never Take No for an Answer led to a surprising experience – people thought you were one of the actors! This sparked your interest in acting. It makes you wonder how different your life would be if you hadn’t gone to that movie.

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It’s funny, John Lennon once gave me the push to try a career in singing. Do you think I almost became a pop star?

I was almost launched as a pop star. Brian Epstein, the Beatles’ manager, was producing a play I was in and introduced me to Dick James, who published their music. James offered to develop me as a rock artist, but the very next day I was offered a season at Chichester Festival Theatre. I chose the theatre, and that led to a role with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Theatre really took hold of my career, and I happily went with it.

Every character has a defining moment or trait – a single action or feeling that truly represents who they are. For Gandhi, it was his anger, but he channeled it into something extraordinary. In the film Schindler’s List, Itzhak Stern’s defining characteristic was simply needing to bear witness to the events unfolding around him; he was, in a way, destined to be there and observe them.

In film, you’ve worked with some of the greatest directors – is there a quality they all share?

Directors fall into two types: those who constantly make you audition, and those who simply offer you the part. I much prefer working with directors who confidently and freely give you a role. Peter Brook, a director I greatly admired, once said the most damaging thing a director could utter: “Trust me.” Conversely, the best compliment I can give a director is to say, “No, you trust me.”

In 1983, you received the Oscar for your performance in Gandhi. You were nominated alongside Dustin Hoffman, Jack Lemmon, Paul Newman, and Peter O’Toole. What was that experience like?

You could see from my face that I was completely stunned. I felt like a confused waiter, holding up my Oscar and jokingly asking, “Who ordered the chardonnay?” I was totally out of it, especially considering I was surrounded by such huge stars.

You’ve achieved a lot – awards for your work in film and theatre, a knighthood, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. If you could have only one more thing, what would it be?

Being knighted was a huge honor, especially because I deeply admired Queen Elizabeth and the courage her family showed during the war. Honestly, what I really aspire to be is a kind of storyteller for my community – someone who shares tales and connects with people. There’s no feeling quite like having your ‘tribe’ acknowledge your work, saying they’ve seen and heard you, and genuinely appreciating it. That’s the ultimate acceptance, the warmest embrace you could ask for.

You’ve been a professional actor for 60 years. Does the job get easier or harder?

Neither – I think it gets more joyful.

Authors

Sarfraz Manzoor

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2026-01-26 20:35