Sir Ben 'barmy' over knighthood

Veteran producer Lord Puttnam has branded Sir Ben Kingsley "barmy" for insisting he is referred to by his full title

The Oscar-winning actor is famously precious about his knighthood.

The poster for his new film Lucky Number Slevin, out this week, bills him as "Sir Ben Kingsley".

Other knights of the acting world, including Sir Roger Moore, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Sir Michael Caine, are happy to drop their titles.

Chariots of Fire producer Lord Puttnam, honoured last night with a Bafta Fellowship, urged Gandhi star Sir Ben to stop taking himself so seriously.

In an interview with BBC Radio Five Live Breakfast, he said: "I think Ben's barmy and I wish I could just get hold of him and say 'wake up'. It's a silly thing to do.

"Within the film industry I'm just David Puttnam and I will always be David Puttnam."

Asked what Sir Ben was thinking, Lord Puttnam replied: "I wish I knew. I don't know.

"It's a very, very, very silly thing to do and I suspect when he sits back and thinks about it he will realise it."

Sir Ben, 62, the son of a Scarborough GP, was knighted in 2001.

He said afterwards: "There is no Mr Ben Kingsley any more. Being a Sir brings with it responsibility."

And in a press conference for Thunderbirds, he chastised a German reporter who called him Mr Kingsley.

"It's Sir Ben," he said. "I've not been a Mr for two years."

He has said of his title: "Perhaps it is an invitation by the realm and the Prime Minister to say, 'He now plays for England, so perhaps you should listen to him a little more diligently'."

Sir Roger said last week he prefers to be called "Rog" on film sets. "I think insisting on being called Sir Roger is a load of pretentious b******s," he said.

"As for film posters and opening titles, I don't see the point. Would it really add anything to have one's title included? Would more people go to see a film just because it's Sir Roger Moore and not just Roger Moore? I don't think so. I think it's the actor people want to see, not the knight."

Lord Puttnam was speaking after receiving the Bafta Fellowship, the highest honour the Academy can bestow.

His film credits include Oscar-winner Chariots of Fire, The Killing Fields and Midnight Express.