SHUTTER ISLAND
An Interview with Sir Ben Kingsley

By Wilson Morales

February 15, 2010

For much of his illustrious career, Sir Ben Kingsley has worked with the best filmmakers. From his collaborations with Richard Attenborough on ‘Ghandi,’ which he won the 1982 Oscar for Best Actor, to Steven Spielberg, Roman Polanski, and many others, Kingsley has always brought something different to the table. He’s never the same character or doesn’t give the same persona to the role.

For his latest film, ‘Shutter Island,’ in which he plays Dr. John Cawley, head of a high-security mental institution, the British born native gets to work with another legendary director, Martin Scorsese.

Set in 1954, the film revolves around two federal marshals who come to investigate the disappearance of a murderess from a mental institution off a secluded island.

In speaking with Blackfilm.com, Kingsley spoke about his role, working with Scorsese, and his upcoming projects, which includes trying his hand at producing films.

Had you read the book prior to taking the role? Kingsley: No. I dipped into the book prior to taking the role but I didn’t really study it. The first step was to listen to Martin on the telephone and eloquently describing the character and inviting me to join him, which of course was a joy. Then I received the script, which became my bible. It never left my site until I walked off the set, which is wonderful. With as many films you have done, have you taken on the role of such a complex character? Kingsley: If I don’t embellish and if I don’t judge or sentimentalized any moment in front of the camera, or comment on it, then I know that I’m free and clear and allowed to edit me and film me with choice of light and wonderful ways to shoot one action from many different angles. I was utterly consistent with the way I looked in front of the camera. It was Martin who worked the magic and allowed the audience to perceive me in many different ways.

How was with someone like DiCaprio, who comes into the film having worked with Scorsese on numerous occasions? Kingsley: The generous thing about Martin Scorsese is that as well as being a great director, he’s simply by nature, a wonderful teacher. In the realm of pure enthusiasm, he’s contagious; and therefore, the conversations he has with the actors, the films that he screens for us, and the debate about scenes, it’s always an opportunity to learn. Everything he did was in public so that there was never a chance for anyone to be excluded by a certain clique or club that had been in operation for a few films. On the contrary, nothing was whispered on the corner and everything was shared. Anyone on the set would have had the impression that Scorsese and DiCaprio working together for the first time. No secret agenda and no clubby atmosphere whatsoever. That was a generous choice on the part of Mr. Scorsese.

What excites you these days as you continue to work? Kingsley: I don’t really know until I open the script. I really enjoy being surprised by some things. I have no idea that I was looking for this particular role or that particular role; the script arrives on my desk, I open it, and if the voice in mind says, “There it is; I’ll do it.” If the voice says, “I think someone else can do this, I pass on it.” I am producing films that I will star in myself and there’s a certain amount of design and this is unusual for me.