Profiles

Although he is one of Britain’s best known names of stage and screen, what many fans of Sir Ben Kingsley may not know is that he was born in North Yorkshire. The Oscar-winning actor spent the first two years of his life in Snainton, near Scarborough.

To celebrate his many achievements, Sir Ben was invited to the 2008 graduation ceremony at the Spa for Hull University’s Scarborough campus, where he was awarded an honorary degree.

Sir Ben celebrates with students

The actor took part in the traditional procession into the Grand Hall and made a well-received acceptance speech in which he told his fellow graduands “Thank you for your embrace. I embrace you.” The Dean of the Scarborough Campus, Dr Craig Gaskell said, "Our students were thrilled to share their graduation day with such a high-profile actor."

During his visit to Scarborough Sir Ben also took the opportunity to visit his childhood home in Snainton. He described the visit as “… a gentle act of recognition. I didn’t remember it but I recognised it.”

However, it was his portrayal of Gandhi in the 1982 film, directed by Richard Attenborough, which propelled him to worldwide fame. The role earned him an Oscar for Best Actor, two Golden Globes and two BAFTA awards.

Since then, Sir Ben has appeared in countless films and has been nominated for three further Academy Awards for his roles in ‘House of Sand and Fog’, ‘Schindler's List’ and ‘Sexy Beast’. 2008 sees the release of five further films starring the actor, including the Sundance Film Festival’s Audience Award winner, ‘The Wackness’.

Richard Attenborough, director of Gandhi

In 2001 he received a knighthood in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for services to drama. Earlier this year he received the Cinema for Peace Honorary Award for the portrayal of humanitarian role models, including Gandhi.

While Sir Ben was in North Yorkshire he met Wendy Clews, organiser of ‘Coastival’, a new arts festival for Scarborough, due to take place in 2009. She invited him to become one of its Patrons. The actor graciously accepted the role and will support ‘Coastival’ in company with his fellow Knight, Sir Alan Ayckbourn.

So, after a long absence from the area of his birth, Sir Ben Kingsley, has forged new links with North Yorkshire that may result in his return to the area in the not too distant future.