Have a question for Ben? Email him at info@bencross.net. While time does not permit him to answer all emails personally, he does make every effort to answer as many questions as possible. We will post all answers on this page, so please visit the site regularly for updates.
General
Where can I find copies of Ben Cross Movies? All major online retailers and Ebay for films that are currently out of print.
Why doesn’t Ben answer my emails directly? Time does not permit him to answer each and every email directly. However, he does spend as much time as possible providing you with up-to-date information on this website as well as posting replies to all questions on this page.
May I request an autograph from Ben? Currently, we do not have an arrangement worked out for autographs. However, should this change in the future, instructions will be posted on this website.
Why did you become an actor? I became an actor because a) I enjoyed great success during my high school days in many plays and b) leaving formal education at age 15 I was not qualified to do anything else.
What do you find the most fun about being an actor? The least? I most enjoy the challenge of creating a flesh and blood character from a written script. The thing I least enjoy is getting up at 4 in the morning!
What do you find most difficult when filming a movie? The most difficult thing about acting in films is the fact that I rarely have the luxury of rehearsals. All that kind of work generally takes place at home in my head.
Chariots of Fire was indeed your most physically challenging role. However, what was your most challenging role from an acting standpoint? I have done many physically challenging roles but the roles that I find most challenging are those which require love/sex scenes. I'm afraid I'm bit of an old prude.
Do you have a preference for certain roles? Not especially. BUT what is important to me is to find roles which require ALL my skills; both physically and mentally and to which I can bring all my years of experience of Life.
You have made movies for the better of 30 years. Was there any actor, director that you enjoyed working with the most? I have enjoyed working with all the people I have made movies with (with one or two MAJOR exceptions and who shall remain nameless!)
What film(s) do you consider among your best? Your worst? I loved making the Potato Factory, Solomon, The Diamond Fleece and of course Chariots of Fire. More recently I loved making When Nietzsche Wept. There is only one role I was/am embarrassed by and I am certainly not going to name it otherwise you'll all rush out and try to get hold of it!
What would you recommend to a person who wishes to be an actor/actress that is having a difficult time? The only advice I can give is to hang in there or find another profession. Show biz is merciless and is a world full of rejection. I have known many people who were destroyed by the profession and you have to be really tough and determined.
You have made films in many parts of the world. What was your favourite place you worked? I have been so lucky to have visited many countries via my work. But I loved India, Australia and Russia the most.
What character (if any) have you played best represents you? None. I use acting to escape myself and the roles that begin to come "close" to me are the most difficult.
If you had the opportunity to work with any director in the industry, who would it be and why? I have never worked with an A list director although some of the guys I've worked with have gone on to become so. To be frank I would love to work with ANY A list director...if only he or she would consider me!
You have performed in many stage plays over the years. What are the pros and cons of stage plays when compared to filming a movie? When acting in the theatre you always have weeks of rehearsals unlike film (except in extraordinary circumstances). In film you basically get one shot (or 2 or 3 "takes") and that's it. The downside of working in the theatre is that an actor may be required to play the same role for a year or more, 8 shows a week, and keeping it fresh is very hard work.
Who are your top three actors and/or films that you admire? I generally don't admire actors per se but I DO admire individual performances. I would give my right arm to have had a career such as Tom Hanks, John Hurt, Jeff Bridges and William H. Macy. I can watch Groundhog Day, The Godfather (all 3), The Big Lebowski again and again. They always work for me.
What are your best memories from filming this movie? Worst? Chariots was a baptism by fire for me. Unfortunately, because of the huge success it had it was a VERY tough act to follow and I honestly think, looking back, that perhaps it happened too soon for me. Nevertheless, I learned so much during that film that I was able to carry with me for the rest of my career.
Were you surprised that the film won multiple Oscars? I, and everybody else involved, could not fail to have been amazed at the film's success. It was released in the UK to lukewarm reviews and only after the success at the Oscars did the UK press re- review the movie and decide that perhaps it was not such a bad film after all. I think it unintentionally caught the zeitgeist of the USA in the very early 80's which no-one could have predicted.
Do you enjoy running? How many times did you have to run up and down that beach to get that magnificent opening scene? Sorry, I don't enjoy running. One of the reasons for this is that the beach scene took 4 or 5 times to film and I threw up after we finished. That was not the only time it happened either!
"Dark Shadows"
This series is among your most popular in American television. Did you enjoy this project? I loved making the series although I cannot pretend to have been really disappointed when it was pulled. We were up against a much stronger series: namely the first Gulf War. No-one could hardly complain that we lost our audience to such an important event.
Did you have fun with the cast making Dark Shadows? Is there anything in particular that you remember you enjoyed or funny that happened during filming? I made the series 17 years ago and my memory is not as good as you might expect. I DO remember, though, how all the actresses seemed to relish having their necks bitten and this was a cause of much hilarity. It was a grueling job entailing many long hours and sometimes 6/7 hours in the make- up chair. Not much scope for laughter!
Do you enjoy playing vampires? You’ve done it a few times… I enjoy, or at least, TRY to enjoy each role I play. A vampire, although mythic, is nevertheless a character. And so requires all the usual dedication and discipline as in every role. At the same time I was/am wary of being pigeon-holed into any particular genre.
What did you like and dislike about playing Barnabus? Of course I loved the fact that it was a series which gave me incredible scope to fully explore the psychology of Barnabas. The one thing I do wish was that he had been able to demonstrate a sense of humour. But I suppose that after being chained inside a coffin for a few centuries he wasn't ready to crack a few jokes. This, perhaps, would have been an area we might have explored in subsequent series had they occurred.
Did you enjoy working with director/producer Dan Curtis? Dan Curtis was a fantastic director. Of course, he was responsible for the original series so he knew exactly what he wanted. He was a tough task-master and, indeed, had to be. We were under tremendous pressure to bring the series in on time every week.
Jean Simmons is a legendary British actress, what was it like to work with her? Jean Simmons brought to the series a wealth of experience from her brilliant career. She was thoroughly professional but had a wicked sense of humour.
You had the opportunity to film Dark Shadows within the walls of Greystone. What was that like or what were your impressions of it? Do you agree with the droves of people who claim it’s haunted? I had heard, of course, about Greystone being haunted but never experienced anything of the paranormal. Perhaps the nature of the series spooked the spooks!
How did you come to land the role of the Barnabas and how did you hear about Dark Shadows or that it was being revived on NBC? Had you ever seen or heard of it before? In the US it had a cult following on daytime television for years but outside of the US not that many people knew about it in 1991. I think that someone at MGM decided that I was, for some reason, the only one they wanted to play the role. Of course I'm sure they saw lots of people but it was not difficult for me to land the role. I had never heard of the original series though I know it was very popular with its audience.
Had Dark Shadows not been cancelled, what do you feel would have been the best outcome for the relationship between Victoria and Barnabas? I think that there would have been perhaps three possibilities. 1) Victoria would have become a vampire and they would live happily for eternity. 2) Barnabas would have become human and they would live happily together for the rest of their human lives. 3) Barnabas would have a tragic end leaving Victoria free to find some kind of "normal" love.
"Potato Factory"
What are your best memories from filming this movie? Worst? The major thing I enjoyed about this project was the opportunity to visit Australia for the first time. I love the country and was also able to visit a very dear friend who went to RADA with me and whom I had not seen for 20-odd years.
What did you like/dislike about playing Ikey Solomon? Why did you choose the role? I chose to play Ikey Soloman because, by virtue of being a mini-series I had the time and the story to really develop and get to grips with the man. I loved the way I was able to age him and to suffer with him as he went from street villain to redeemed man. I shall never forget this role and I have great affection for it.
Various Films
When you were filming "Turbulence," how much time and training went into your schedule in order to play the role of a 747 captain? I got some coaching from a pilot for the movie but the script-writer had done a lot of research so I knew that what I was saying was authentic. Also, the director laid on the floor of the pilot's cabin during filming, hidden from the camera, and so was able to give me instructions as we filmed.
Do you consider yourself a spiritual person? What is your philosophy of life? I do consider myself to be a spiritual person but I cannot claim to have found my spiritual niche in this world. I have explored many of the major religions (though I have yet to read the Koran-it's on my list) and they really all seem to say the same thing. I believe there are many roads to the same mountain-top and I hope to get there before I die.
Do you enjoy any other hobbies besides writing screenplays and music? If you count taking care of a three-legged cat a hobby, then you can add Lucky to my list. I read an awful lot of books. But apart from that I'm really quite lazy when I'm not working in movies.
What are your favourite foods? Do you like to cook? I love Indian cuisine and fancy myself as a bit of an amateur chef. Living in Bulgaria at the moment does not make finding the necessary ingredients possible. But on my next trip to London I shall stock up.
If you can meet anyone in the world, who would it be? There are so many people I would love to meet but, going back to the spiritual side of things, I would love to meet a truly enlightened man or woman to guide through the rest of my life. Who he or she is, I have yet to discover.
What qualities do you find outstanding in people that make you respect them? Kindness, generosity, gentleness, in short I love to meet anyone who seems to have found a way of life that does not subscribe to the materialistic. These are qualities I am trying to develop in myself.... with varying degrees of success.
You are often asked what qualities you look for in a woman. The qualities I have always looked for in a woman are: independence, intelligence, beauty, sexiness and that certain chemical je ne sais quoi.
What would you say to a fan that is grateful that you as a person and/or your work have had a positive influence on their life? I have had many special letters from people, not necessarily "fans", who have expressed wonderful things about me and my work. Problem is, am I REALLY responsible for the way what I've done has affected them. Perhaps they should thank the producer or director who made it possible for me to affect them. I cannot bask in the suspect glory of having had a positive affect on people's lives. That's where the Ego lies in wait to trap me. But, having said that, I do get a deal of pleasure from reading their, sometimes, incredible letters.
Do you have any role models or people you have looked up to throughout your life? Many but only vicariously I'm afraid. I admire various writers of fiction and, of course, many spiritual writers and leaders. I am not seduced by the celebrity thing at all.
Do you support any charities? I do feel, in the words of the beautiful song, that "The children are our future etc." and would encourage anyone to back a charity that protected and nurtured children.
Following, the Actor’s Studio, if there is a Heaven, what would you like hear God say upon entering the pearly gates? Congratulations! You got the role!
Also, following the Actor’s Studio, do you have a favorite curse word and if so, what is it? (Everyone does so don’t be shy) I use, when I lose my temper, every cuss word you can name. But won't put them into print. By the way: I am not a fan of that TV show where that dreadfully obsequious man interviews actors. I'm sure Lee Strasberg would hit him if he were still with us. Whoops! Guess I won't ever be invited on THAT Show!
You have lived in many places around the world. Did you come from a family of travellers? As my family were Irish and horse traders, I suppose that, yes, I DO come from "traveller" stock. They had the gift of the gab (I myself have kissed the Blarney Stone 3 times) and told tall tales. I consider myself to be a natural Pikey and during one period of my life I was called the Pike by my friends. I am indeed a ragged-trousered philosopher.
If you do it over again, would you choose music over acting? I have to say a qualified Yes. If I had had the benefit of a musical education when I was a child, I feel certain I would have been much more of a musician than I am. But, no regrets. The Universe is beginning to supply me with musical opportunities which I never suspected would happen and for this I am very grateful.
What instruments do you play and what is your favourite? I play guitar and attempt to beat the piano into submission. But it takes me 3 months to achieve what a professional musician could do in 3 minutes!
What is your favourite music genre, and why? I love most genres of music. My favourite is, perhaps it's due to my age, the Standards. This for me is real music, timeless, witty, soulful and very complex. That said, I do agree with the late Ray Charles who said there are only two types of music: good and bad.
Any bands/singers that you greatly admire? Too many to mention. I would hate to leave anyone out and the list would be too long to include here.
If you are playing in a band, what artists would you cover? I would not cover artists. I would cover composers. Plus I would try to include my own stuff... assuming they pass my own rigorous sense of good taste. ;-)
Have you played in any professional bands? Never but I'm still here....who knows. I just sang in a festival on the Black Sea coast called Apollonia (visit the website here), and I had a ball. It has been suggested I start my own band but this would have to be a jazz/rock set-up. Watch this space.....