2 OF 5

Ben Kingsley; Richard Attenborough

2 of 5 portraits of Ben Kingsley

by Lord Snowdon
C-type colour print, 1982
16 3/8 in. x 16 1/2 in. (417 mm x 420 mm)
Given by Antony Charles Robert Armstrong Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon, 1985
Photographs Collection
NPG x34553

Sittersback to top

Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough (1923-2014), Actor, producer and director; brother of Sir David Attenborough. Sitter in 10 portraits.
Sir Ben Kingsley (né Krishna Bhanji) (1943-), Actor. Sitter in 5 portraits.

Artistback to top

Antony Charles Robert Armstrong Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon (1930-2017), Photographer, film-maker and designer; former husband of Princess Margaret. Artist of 285 portraits, Sitter in 22 portraits.

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1982back to top

Current affairs

Unemployment hits 3.6 million in the UK, with one in eight people out of work. The crisis came about as a result of industrial modernisation and restructuring. As a result those out of work were referred to as 'Maggie's millions'.
Charles and Diana have their first child, Prince William, who becomes the second in line for the throne.

Art and science

Richard Attenborough releases his biopic Gandhi, starring Ben Kingsley as the lead. The film was an Anglo-Indian production, featuring a record-breaking 300,000 extras.
The Barbican Arts Centre is opened featuring a concert hall, theatres, cinema screens and an art gallery. In 2003 it was voted London's ugliest building in a BBC poll.
The Thames Barrier opens to protect London from floods due to rising sea levels.

International

Argentina occupies the Falkland Islands beginning the Falklands War. Britain retaliated, and after three months of fighting at sea and on land won back the islands. Following the British victory opposition grew in Argentina towards the military government, while in Britain a wave of patriotism helped Margaret Thatcher to win the general election the following year.

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