SIR Ben Kingsley has ruled out a return to the stage - because he feels more creatively fulfilled by acting in films.

The Gandhi star was trained in classical theatre in his native England in the 1960s, and performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company before making a successful transition to movie roles.

And although he acknowledges his theatrical roots, he has no desire to return to plays.

He says, "I've done one play in the last 20 years. I'm very much a film actor. I think acting on stage is like landscape painting, and I think acting on film is like fine detailed portrait painting.

"I really love portrait painting, but I find it difficult to pick up that other brush."