Snogging Sir Ben

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Tea enjoyed 'making out' with Sir Ben

It's not every day you get to lock lips with Sir Ben Kingsley, and at the Hollywood premiere of new movie You Kill Me, Tea Leoni revealed all about how she got to "make out with a knight".

Sir Ben, who had filming commitments, couldn't make the screening of the dark comedy in which he plays an alcoholic hitman drying out on the west coast. During his recovery his character befriends a sharp-tongued woman (played by Tea) who eventually helps him to settle some old scores.

Speaking on the red carpet, Tea had nothing but praise for the absent leading man: "The thing about Sir Ben is he's perfect, he's enchanting and charming, professional and fun, and vulnerable."

"I mean I really have to say it was a joy working with him and you throw that accent in and, well..."

And Tea says she wasn't daunted by the actor's title: "People said that Ben liked to be called Sir Ben and that's not really true, he's quite casual about it."

"I insisted that I call him Sir Ben because it's not every day that you get to make out with a knight."

Tea's husband, X-Files actor David Duchovny, was unable to make the screening. Instead the couple's close friend, stand-up comedian Garry Shandling, was acting as her date for the night.

The Larry Sander's Show star couldn't resist joking: "I don't believe David gets jealous, I think I would be referred to as non-threatening."