Ben Kingsley

Ben Kingsley talks about filming and feasting in Morocco, and having the title SHORTLISTS “Sir” in his passport. PHOTOS © RANN CHANDRIC, EYEVINE

“WHEN I TRAVEL, I GET HOMESICK FOR my home in Oxfordshire, in the English countryside. But the actor, the storyteller in me is very invigorated by travel and by feeling and sensing other cultures and other stories. “For example, in Morocco there is a saying: ‘If you want to get to know Morocco, bring a child.’ And that’s very beautiful because the way that the Moroccans love and look after children is very beautiful. It’s the complete opposite of ‘Don’t bring a child, it’s not safe’, and therefore is something to be proud of.

“My new film Prince of Persia was filmed in Morocco, so I’ve spent a lot of time in the country – it’s a glorious environment. Prince of Persia is a family film with a huge heart and I’m very proud to be associated with it. I see myself as an ambassador for cinema, and I want movies to touch people’s hearts, not their wallets. Morocco is a very strong part of why I feel this way and so I hope the new film will reinforce and strengthen the nation’s place as a great filmmaking location. We used a great deal of Moroccan artisanship, actors and crew, all of whom I personally love working with. My film experience in the country has been sublime.

“I’m very fond of Ouarzazate and Marrakesh. I’ve also filmed in El Jadida and Casablanca. I’ve had very enjoyable times in Morocco. Food, wine, oh yes, and the people. I love the old kasbahs, too. If you go to a kasbah, you can go back to the time of Christ and Muhammad, or Ramses or Moses. The way that those buildings are put together, mixing clay with straw, making bricks is extraordinary. It’s biblical.

“I also love the food in Morocco. Pastilla is my favourite dish. Harira is my favourite soup. And my favourite wine would be Guerrouane, which translates as ‘great rose’.

“Now when I travel, on my passport it says Sir Ben, not Mister – they’ve taken Mister away! It’s the same for doctors – after years of study at medical school they become Doctor not Mister any more, too. Except that I get Sir for being a thespian all these years and now it’s become a sort of nickname!”

INTERVIEW: JOHANNA JUNTUNEN

BEN KINGSLEY STARS IN PRINCE OF PERSIA, RELEASED ACROSS EUROPE IN LATE MAY.

FLY TO AGADIR, FEZ, MARRAKESH, NADOR AND TANGIER FROM ACROSS THE RYANAIR NETWORK, INCLUDING BARCELONA (GIRONA) AND LONDON (STANSTED). VISIT WWW.RYANAIR.COM