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I certainly wouldn't define myself as a northerner. I'm not even really sure what that means. I've lived in London for 50 years. I wasn't born here, but I have spent most of my life here. So I don't make much of it, to be honest. I'm just myself.
Ian Mckellen -
If you've got Mystique as your girlfriend the fun you could have in bed – I've just imagined X-Men 3 might open with me in bed with Patrick Stewart.
Ian Mckellen
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I have little routines in the theater. Once I've established something, like the order of putting on makeup and a costume, I have to invariably do it in the same order every time, even if I only did it by chance the first time round.
Ian Mckellen -
In the '50s and '60s, the life of a gay man was a secret. Homosexuality was illegal, so you didn't draw attention to yourself.
Ian Mckellen -
There have been many gay knights in the past - like Sir Noel Coward or Sir John Gielgud.
Ian Mckellen -
I got better as an actor, and still I'm getting better. That's only been possible because there's always been work.
Ian Mckellen -
I don't any longer make any quality judgement between theater and cinema. They are different experiences for the audience, and they also are for the actors - although they have a lot in common.
Ian Mckellen -
Actors don't, in fact, retire, do they? It took me a while to remember that.
Ian Mckellen
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Gandalf is in Middle-earth to keep an eye on everybody, and that can be a rather serious matter.
Ian Mckellen -
The conventional wisdom is that if you are gay, you cannot play the romantic straight lead in a movie.
Ian Mckellen -
Very, very rare that you do a job knowing that the audience is desperate for you to do that job. Most films you make don't get released, is the fact.
Ian Mckellen -
Until I came out, my acting was all about disguise, and thereafter it became about telling the truth.
Ian Mckellen -
Gandalf the Grey was always the guy I prefer. Gandalf the White was driven to do a particular job, whereas Gandalf the Grey is a bit more humane.
Ian Mckellen -
I got intrigued by working in small theatres.
Ian Mckellen
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Gandalf saves the world and saves the soul of the world, really.
Ian Mckellen -
The whole atmosphere of the book, the tone of 'The Hobbit,' is of a kid's adventure story, told in the first person by Tolkien, who is introducing young people to the notion of Middle-earth. A lot of it is very light-hearted.
Ian Mckellen -
The one thing you can ask, I think, is that actors get paid a living wage. I would like it if all the repertory theatres that currently exist could do that. It would make a huge difference.
Ian Mckellen -
You put anyone in the outfit, and they look like Gandalf. Not that clever.
Ian Mckellen -
On the whole, actors shout when they don't know what they're doing, trying to make an impact.
Ian Mckellen -
Why do you act? You act for an audience. In the theatre, you're in their presence. Film stars don't know what it is to have an audience.
Ian Mckellen
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To be allowed for the first time in your later career to play leading parts in extremely popular movies is not a situation to worry about.
Ian Mckellen -
If I was on a march at the moment I would be saying to everyone: 'Be honest with each other. Admit there are limitless possibilities in relationships, and love as many people as you can in whatever way you want, and get rid of your inhibitions, and we'll all be happy.
Ian Mckellen -
Because I was in the business of translating the 'X-Men' from the very successful comics, and taking the most popular book of the 20th century in 'The Lord of the Rings,' and making it into three movies, I hope people realize I wouldn't get involved in anything I didn't think was really going to be worth their while.
Ian Mckellen -
Thanks to every gay person in public and non-public life who has come out.
Ian Mckellen