A certain mystique and mystery surrounding a celebrity have always been a charming touch, especially in an era dominated by oversharing and social media. The audience’s yearning to know more about the lives of public figures has become a tactic for maintaining relevance. Consider actors like Alexa Demie or Kingsley Ben-Adir, who adeptly keep their personal details under wraps, leaving fans intrigued.
However Kingsley Ben-Adir is notoriously good at answering questions without sharing much. Consequently, people are ever-curious regarding his personal identity, including, such as whether he identifies as Jewish. Thus, during his latest interview, the actor tactfully handled the question and also let people into his mind.
Why did Kingsley Ben-Adir Choose to Keep his Personal Life Private?
In a recent interview with The Guardian, actor Kingsley Ben-Adir, known for his roles in projects like Barbie, Secret Invasion, and One Night in Miami, explained his tendency to avoid questions about his personal life. When asked whether he identifies as Jewish, the actor, who is famously secretive in that regard, shared his reasons for maintaining privacy. He said,
“It’s about wanting the people who love you to feel safe,–I definitely find it cringe when I read actors using the media as a space to vent their therapy.”
He further expanded on the importance of his day-to-day existence, underscoring how the small routines and moments in his daily life hold particular value for him.,
“I feel nervous about people knowing stuff about me. I do feel frightened by the idea of celebrity and being recognised. I get the tube every day, I cycle everywhere. I live a normal life and I really, really like it.”
Exploring his early years and upbringing, the actor revealed his connection to Kentish Town, suggesting his father’s British roots and his mother’s Trinidadian origin, born in London. Thus, amidst the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, he consciously opts for a peaceful life.
Kingsley Ben-Adir on the Making of Bob Marley: One Love
Surprisingly, the 2024 movie was shot right after Barbie, and as a result, the actor had to undertake a considerable amount of preparation while still on the set of Barbie, as mentioned in The Guardian interview, he revealed,
“I was manic at the time–Looking back, I may as well have been learning to play a part in French. I was building my understanding of Bob’s language from the ground up; the dialect, the flow, the intonation, the feel. Jamaican patois is deceptive. So much of the English language is in it, you think you know it. But it’s more confusing and complicated than that.”
Taking his preparation to the next level, the actor went above and beyond by visiting Bob Marley’s bandmates and family to gain deeper insights into the legendary figure and better portray him on screen. During these encounters, the actor again found himself taking the stand, as he revealed,
“Many of the people I spoke to in Jamaica were wary of me when I first sat down. And rightly so. ‘Who are you coming over here to do this? Who are you?’ I would tell them: ‘If I was you, I’d feel the same. But I want to try my best to represent this properly.’ I told them: ‘Listen, I’ve grown up with Jamaicans, believe me I’m not taking this lightly. I’ve agreed to do it, so I’m f–king going to try my best.’”
The actor did his best to actually get into the skin of the character and portray him as accurately as possible on the big screen.
Bob Marley: One Love will be released in cinemas on February 14, 2024.
