Sir Ian McKellen<\/strong> is opening up concerning the worst piece of recommendation that he has ever received. The recommendation got here from an unexpected source: the \u201cStar Wars\u201d legend Sir Alec Guinness<\/strong>. The conversation took place during a brand new interview during which the \u201cLord of the Rings\u201d actor answered questions from fans. <\/p>\n Sir Ian McKellen revealed that he had once had a conversation with the late \u201cStar Wars\u201d actor Alec Guinness about his campaign for LGBTQ+ rights. The discussion got here up during an interview with The Guardian<\/a>, when he answered questions sent in by readers. One query was \u201cWhat\u2019s the worst piece of recommendation you\u2019ve ever been given?\u201d<\/p>\n McKellen explained that he first met Guinness in 1979 after the late actor attended a performance of McKellen\u2019s play \u201cBent.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \u201cAlec 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,\u201d McKellen said.<\/p>\n Sir Ian McKellen says Obi-Wan Kenobi actor Alec Guinness pleaded with him to remain quiet on Gay Rights:<\/p>\n \u201cHe 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\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/41ZjznqKTM<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Pop Base (@PopBase) May 11, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n During that lunch, McKellen revealed that Guinness had tried to steer him to desert his advocacy work out of concern for his acting profession.<\/p>\n \u201cHe 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 \u2013 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,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n \u201cHe thought it somewhat unseemly for an actor to dabble in public or political affairs and advised me, type of pleaded with me, to withdraw,\u201d he explained, later calling it \u201cadvice from an older generation\u201d that he \u201cdidn\u2019t follow.\u201d<\/p>\n 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 \u201cTwo Halves of Guinness.\u201d<\/p>\n McKellen described it as \u201ca solo show which hints at Sir Alec\u2019s latent bisexuality in a way that may have upset him, I suppose.\u201d<\/p>\n The late actor died in 2000 on the age of 86; nonetheless, in 2001, reports emerged that he was bisexual. The BBC<\/a>\u00a0reported that the \u201cLawrence of Arabia\u201d actor hid his sexuality from the general public, but was considered out amongst his family and friends.<\/p>\n Guinness was married to actress and playwright Merula Silvia Salaman. They welcomed a son named Matthew Guinness, who’s now 85.<\/p>\n McKellen is a widely known figure in popular culture. He might be reprising his \u201cX-Men\u201d role as Magneto in \u201cAvengers: Doomsday,\u201d which hits theaters this December. He can also be set to reprise his role because the wizard Gandalf in \u201cThe Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,\u201d which is scheduled for release in 2027.<\/p>\n Elijah Wood might be reprising his role as Frodo Baggins, and Lee Pace might be reprising his role as Thranduil from \u201cThe Hobbit.\u201d Andy Serkis might be reprising his role as Gollum and Sm\u00e9agol, 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.<\/p>\n In August 2025, McKellen teased his return to Middle-earth on the\u00a0For the Love of Fantasy\u00a0<\/em>fan event in London, as reported by Entertainment Weekly<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019ll let you know two secrets concerning the casting: There\u2019s a personality within the movie called Frodo, and there\u2019s a personality within the movie called Gandalf,\u201d he said on the time.<\/p>\n \u201cOther than that, my lips are sealed!\u201d he joked amid gasps from the audience.<\/p>\n Although the \u201cLord of the Rings\u201d film trilogy wrapped in 2023 with \u201cThe Lord of the Rings: Return of the King,\u201d McKellen and Wood reprised their role within the \u201cHobbit\u201d trilogy, which took place from 2012 to 2014.<\/p>\n Along with \u201cThe Hunt for Gollum,\u201d fans can even sit up for veteran late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert co-writing one other \u201cLord of the Rings\u201d script called \u201cShadow of the Past,\u201d which is able to happen after \u201cThe Hunt for Gollum.\u201d It’ll be written by Colbert, Philippa Boyens, and Peter McGee.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nAlec Guinness Was Seemingly Against McKellen\u2019s Advocacy Work<\/h2>\n
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Ian McKellen Got here Out As Gay In 1988<\/h2>\n
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Sir Ian McKellen Is Having fun with A Long Acting Profession<\/h2>\n
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McKellen Teased His \u2018Lord of the Rings\u2019 Return In August 2025<\/h2>\n
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