Ben Kingsley

Ben Kingsley (born Krishna Pandit Bhanji on December 31, 1943, in Snainton, North Riding of Yorkshire) is an English screen and stage actor celebrated for a career that has stretched across more than five decades. Also credited as Sir Ben Kingsley and Krishna Bhanji, he is widely admired for his precision, range, and transformative character work.

After beginning in theatre, Kingsley joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1967 and spent years honing his craft in major classical productions, including Hamlet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. His work on television also drew acclaim, earning multiple Emmy nominations for standout performances in prestige dramas and historical stories.

Kingsley’s global breakthrough came with Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi, where his portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi won him the Academy Award for Best Actor. He later delivered memorable film turns in Schindler’s List (as Itzhak Stern), Oliver Twist (Fagin), Lucky Number Slevin (The Rabbi), Death and the Maiden, and Sneakers, along with voice work in A.I. Artificial Intelligence.

Honored for his contributions to British cinema, Kingsley was knighted in 2002, received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2010, and later earned the Britannia Award—recognition that matches his enduring impact on international film.