Sir Ben Kingsley last seen as the terrifying (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) terrorist Mandarin in Iron Man 3, is back to playing a father figure in The Walk .
The biopic releasing on October 9, directed by Robert Zemeckis, finds Sir Ben playing Papa Rudy, high wire artiste Philippe Petit’s mentor. In Cancun, Mexico, the 71-year-old actor talks of father figures, fame and celebrity. Excerpts
How do you find balance in your everyday life?
I think my dear, it is a question of acceptance. You know sometimes you can have an inclination of something but it may take a great journey or set of experiences to be able to put it into words. I’ve accepted that there is no light without shadow; that in life there is a shadow moment and immediately, there is a light moment. It is a constant shift between light and shade that I believe is life.
What do you think of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s performance?
One of the glorious things about Joseph’s performance is that for a lot of it, you can tell that he doesn’t care what people think of him. I think one of the weakest aspects of being an actor is wanting to be liked. You have to get that under control.
One of Joseph’s many gifts is he is not really concerned about Joseph being loved, but to paint a portrait of his character that has light and shade in it.
What do you think about the young talent today?
Well, I will tell you celebrity is distorting it. Social networking and celebrity is all entirely based now on being liked and that has got nothing to do with acting.
What is your relationship to celebrity?
I do live in a bubble. I have to say and it is not part of my life at all. I scarcely know what the word means, I am using it in a rather second hand way. I am not part of any social network or anything. I love my job fortunately and it is pretty well all consuming. Once I am involved in a role, I have very little time or appetite for anything else. I go from my work to the domestic, nourishing side of life and very little in between.
You are pretty recognizable so doesn’t that interfere in your day-to-day life?
I am recognized for what I do. I am not recognized for what I want to be. I am not recognized because I auditioned to be liked. I am recognized because people have seen my portraits—the creatures I bring to the screen.
Could you talk about the father figures you’ve played onscreen?
I’m going to give you an honest answer and I’m going invite you to use it with discretion. As a child I had no adult male role models. I was not an orphan.
My parents were there, but they weren’t there so in a sense I think I brought myself up. Not having a patriarchal figure in my childhood, I have found great pleasure in creating the father I didn’t have, onscreen. I was blessed in finding a craft that is not only hugely enjoyable but also mutually healing. That I can tell you a story and whilst telling it I might be healing you, but I’m also healing myself. Gandhiji’s was called Bapu, Pappa Rudy, I played Anne Frank’s father, Otto. I played Simon Wiesenthal who is a great patriarch and Nazi hunter. I’ve had the great pleasure of filling a gap.
At this stage of your career do you think about taking risks?
I think about risks everyday, every morning because nothing changes. I am fortunate, I am blessed in having the original me still sitting here, talking to you. I wanted to be an actor when I was nine years old and nothing has changed. I am aware when I walk into a film set or even this interview that, dare I say it, it is a tight rope.
Is there any role you’d like to play or any director you’d like to work with?
I honestly don’t know. What I find exciting, is surprises. If I open a script and I think this is a complete surprise. I also enjoy working with first-time directors. One of my treasured experiences was of working with a first time director called Jonathan Glazer. The role was Don Logan in Sexy Beast. When I read the script I realised it was an aspect of my work that I’d never explored before. It came roaring out to me as if you’ve uncorked a bottle. I love being surprised. Now set against that, I do have my own production company and I am preparing films that I want to star in and I am hoping to play. What I have not played is a commander, in the military sense with people under his command and having to make very difficult decisions. I am hoping to put on a uniform and try that aspect of my patriarchy.
