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I apologise, I was twittering on there with Ben,
This is Evening Urgant, with us tonight is Sir Ben Kingsley.
Let me ask you this, since we're already talking music:
what sort of music helps you play your character in Iron Man 3,
I would also like to mention that he is a baddie.
The Mandarin, what kind of music - not Chinese.
I think it might have been...what was I listening to-
oh I know who I was listening to - Florence and the Machine!
Really?
A great female vocalist, quite strident, strong, and then suddenly very passionate, not evil, but passionate.
IVAN: Passionate? BEN: No...just passion,
Because what you must remember about playing- and I'm serious, what you must think about,
when playing an evil person, is that they do not consider themselves evil,
They consider themselves to have the perfect path in life, the perfect philosophy,
Yeah, this man does not consider himself evil.
I would describe him as...definitely as a terrorist,
and I would describe him as one whose acts of terror are not only violently destructive,
But he's also manipulating the icons, the language and the belief system of America and Western civilization as we call it,
So he's less with his fists and more with his head, he uses language ironically,
And because he's an American citizen,
he's therefore a home-grown terrorist, which is, you know, even more frightening to Americans than if
you were, quote-unquote "alien", he's not, he's actually, his voice is totally American.
Intelligent, not charming,
and I would say rather cynical,
You are descrbing the role in so much detail-
that I would like to ask what his favourite meal is.
You know everything about him, do you really prepare all this for the role, a detailed biography of this man?
Well, I do, yeah,
I think, that his favourite meal,
is a McDonalds.
But-
Why?!
But before he eats it, his McDonalds, right?
He doesn't use ketchup, he doesn't use mayonnaise,
this is the McDonalds, right?
Ah, he is indeed a baddie.
Now most of the country hates him;
we have a clip from the film, let's take a look at how evil the Mandarin is-
Ladies.
Children.
Sheep.
Some people call me a terrorist,
I consider myself a teacher.
Lesson number one -
heroes, there is no such thing.
Ben, let me say a few words about myself,
I know that you are interested,
I am also an actor, but I mostly play good friends of the main character.
This is my speciality, I play friends of the main character who live a not so simple life,
tell me, to play a real villain, give a master-class, I want to play a real villain, what do I need to do?
Even more advice than I have already given you.
Just simply, the look, the laugh, pose, expressions, simple things.
No, no, no, that look, Ben, this look means I don't know what to do next.
The gesture, the signature gesture of a villain-
Because what you have- you have to be so confident in your powers,
that one gesture, not four, just one gesture will convey your intent on absolutely winning this battle,
you will win, it's deep, deep confidence.
How about the voice?
Low, or high?
If you can get to the lower register of your voice, it will help you, it will empower you, and actually it's quite sexy and the girls like it.
I'm now going to try the lowest, but what phrase, what's your scariest phrase in the film?
Of the Mandarin.
Okay, let's take "Iron Man, you will die" I'll try saying that.
If you say "The Iron Man , you will die", I'm not gonna help you,
I'm gonna let you do it, then I'll give a little pause while I'm considering your performance,
and then I'll give you a little direction.
BEN: Is that a deal? IVAN: Absolutely, Ben
And if I'm a little strict, don't get upset, okay?
We don't want to see the lower lip wobble.
Can I cry?
Can I say "Take me to your next play, I want to-"
Take my direction like a man, come on.
IVAN: Here in Russia, acting is a female profession. BEN: We're both grown-ups, come on.
Do we need music?
I would say, one really soft low note, and on the percussion just-
Attention.
While this wonderful actor is saying that immortal line, let's just have a low note
Ben, I'm already playing.
Iron Man.
That was really ...you held your nerve,
I also need to do an evil laugh at the end.
IVAN: All the villains- BEN: No, because that's like adding water to whiskey,
you're watering it down. No, minimal
Always leave the audience wanting a little bit more,
may I say, usng a well tried and tested American word,
that was awesome.
This was definitely, also fits with your visit,
friends, with us tonight was the fantastic actor, Ben Kingsley,
Ben, thank you for joining us, have a good trip to the Red Square, and visit us again!