Kingsley The Dragon

After playing a living legend in Gandhi, and a maniacal Brit gangster in Sexy Beast, Oscar-winner Sir Ben Kingsley has revealed that he relished the opportunity to play 'the pantomime villain' in the new Thunderbirds movie.

"I see my character as the necessary dragon in a fairytale about a young prince," explained Sir Ben Kingsley when talking about his role in the kids' action-romp, Thunderbirds.

"Every story needs a dragon," he added.

Sir Ben plays the evil Hood, who strands Bill Paxton's Jeff Tracy and his three sons on Thunderbird 5 to let him pursue his evil ends.

With Americans so keen to use Brits in bad guy roles, Sir Ben was the perfect choice to play the nemesis of the Tracy family.

"It is because we, as Englishmen, are fearless about playing baddies. In our hearts we don't care whether the audience love or hate us."

The Oscar-winning actor is not a regular in big-budget Hollywood movies, but when the Thunderbirds role came up, he grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

Talking to The Sun, Sir Ben said he is proud of what he and the filmmakers have achieved: "If you know nothing about the TV series you will have a lovely time at the cinema.

"The filmmakers have been able to take the magic from there and put it here - and it still works.

"The children are fascinated. It looks great and they love the pink clothes, pink car and the bright green Thunderbird 2."

Starring in a kids' movie also makes a change for his family - he recently married for the third time, to 29-year-old Alexandra Christmann.

The four children from his previous marriages are all now grown up, but when Sir Ben and Alexandra married, he became stepfather to her 7-year-old daughter, Lois.

"All of my kids have given rave reviews. They were overwhelmingly positive - and they are the only reviewers I care to listen to."