Sir Ian McKellen is opening up concerning the worst piece of recommendation that he has ever received. The recommendation got here from an unexpected source: the “Star Wars” legend Sir Alec Guinness. The conversation took place during a brand new interview during which the “Lord of the Rings” actor answered questions from fans.
Sir Ian McKellen revealed that he had once had a conversation with the late “Star Wars” actor Alec Guinness about his campaign for LGBTQ+ rights. The discussion got here up during an interview with The Guardian, when he answered questions sent in by readers. One query was “What’s the worst piece of recommendation you’ve ever been given?”
McKellen explained that he first met Guinness in 1979 after the late actor attended a performance of McKellen’s play “Bent.”
“Alec Guinness sat relatively primly in my dressing room, enthusing concerning the play before inviting me out to supper. I stupidly declined, but a decade later was given a second likelihood to fulfill up with the good man,” McKellen said.
Alec Guinness Was Seemingly Against McKellen’s Advocacy Work
During that lunch, McKellen revealed that Guinness had tried to steer him to desert his advocacy work out of concern for his acting profession.
“He took me for an Italian lunch in Pimlico, where we chatted about this and that until he brought up the actual reason for his invitation. He had heard about my work to ascertain Stonewall – a lobby group to present to the federal government and the world at large the case for treating UK lesbians and gays equally under the law with the remaining of the population,” he continued.
“He thought it somewhat unseemly for an actor to dabble in public or political affairs and advised me, type of pleaded with me, to withdraw,” he explained, later calling it “advice from an older generation” that he “didn’t follow.”
Ian McKellen Got here Out As Gay In 1988
During a 1988 BBC radio interview, McKellen revealed his sexual identity and has remained an ardent supporter of LGBTQ+ rights through the years. Within the interview, McKellen said that the conversation got here back to him when he was watching a stage show titled “Two Halves of Guinness.”
McKellen described it as “a solo show which hints at Sir Alec’s latent bisexuality in a way that may have upset him, I suppose.”
The late actor died in 2000 on the age of 86; nonetheless, in 2001, reports emerged that he was bisexual. The BBC reported that the “Lawrence of Arabia” actor hid his sexuality from the general public, but was considered out amongst his family and friends.
Guinness was married to actress and playwright Merula Silvia Salaman. They welcomed a son named Matthew Guinness, who’s now 85.
Sir Ian McKellen Is Having fun with A Long Acting Profession
McKellen is a widely known figure in popular culture. He might be reprising his “X-Men” role as Magneto in “Avengers: Doomsday,” which hits theaters this December. He can also be set to reprise his role because the wizard Gandalf in “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,” which is scheduled for release in 2027.
Elijah Wood might be reprising his role as Frodo Baggins, and Lee Pace might be reprising his role as Thranduil from “The Hobbit.” Andy Serkis might be reprising his role as Gollum and Sméagol, while Leo Woodall and Kate Winslet will join the franchise as latest characters. Although many fans were hoping that Viggo Mortensen would return to reprise his role as Aragorn, his role has been recast and can as a substitute be played by Jamie Dornan.
McKellen Teased His ‘Lord of the Rings’ Return In August 2025
In August 2025, McKellen teased his return to Middle-earth on the For the Love of Fantasy fan event in London, as reported by Entertainment Weekly. “I’ll let you know two secrets concerning the casting: There’s a personality within the movie called Frodo, and there’s a personality within the movie called Gandalf,” he said on the time.
“Other than that, my lips are sealed!” he joked amid gasps from the audience.
Although the “Lord of the Rings” film trilogy wrapped in 2023 with “The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King,” McKellen and Wood reprised their role within the “Hobbit” trilogy, which took place from 2012 to 2014.
Along with “The Hunt for Gollum,” fans can even sit up for veteran late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert co-writing one other “Lord of the Rings” script called “Shadow of the Past,” which is able to happen after “The Hunt for Gollum.” It’ll be written by Colbert, Philippa Boyens, and Peter McGee.