92 Ian Mckellen Quotes for You to Enjoy

Ian Mckellen

English Actor

Born: May 25, 1939

Actor Gay Life Me People You

Related authors: Bill Nighy Charlie Chaplin John Cleese Michael Caine Robert Pattinson Tom Hardy Tom Hiddleston Tom Holland

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

Time First Every Every Time Once Invariably Something Only Costume Putting Like First Time Makeup Did Same Established Order Theater Little Even Round Routines Chance

I don't really like being with people my own age for long periods, because all we talk about is our decrepitude, how the world is changing for the worse even though it isn't. Ian Mckellen

We're very lucky, men, that there are these fabulous parts. Women - once you've done all the parts in Shakespeare, they start running out. So you can pick and choose and find something to energise you. Ian Mckellen

You Women Men Once Out Running Find Fabulous Something Shakespeare Pick Pick And Choose Parts Very Done Choose Lucky Start

Theatre is relatively easy if you're British - you're living in the theatre capital of the world, London - there are so many places you can work, still. If I had begun to think of myself as a film actor, I think I would have got distracted. Ian Mckellen

What I particularly like about Broadway is the camaraderie and the friendship of other people in other shows. Everybody knows you're opening and cares about you. There's a real village atmosphere. Ian Mckellen

Friendship You People Other Cares Everybody Broadway Atmosphere About Opening Like Particularly Knows Real Camaraderie Shows Village

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

You Theatre Stars Know Audience Act Film Why Presence Film Stars

I've always had very catholic tastes. Ian Mckellen

Had Catholic Always Very Tastes

'Lord of the Rings' was about saving the world, big time, big duties. Ian Mckellen

Time World Big Saving Rings About Lord Lord Of The Rings Duties Big Time

I've got a waistline to develop. Ian Mckellen

Develop Got

No actor wants to play to an empty house. Ian Mckellen

House Empty Wants Actor Play

I was a shy gay man at a time when it was illegal to be gay. Ian Mckellen

Time Gay Man Illegal Shy

Tony Blair is not a villain, but he's played the part very well. Ian Mckellen

Tony Blair Blair He Part Well Very Villain Played Tony

No one seems to wash in Middle-earth. Ian Mckellen

Seems No-One Wash

In the past, kids didn't tell their parents they were gay, so there were never the bust-ups. Some parents react so strongly to the news that their children are gay that the reaction is, 'Get out of our house.' There's a residue of old prejudices that are going to die hard. Ian Mckellen

News Gay Old Parents Past Our Kids Out Tell Some Strongly Never House React Reaction Were Get Die Die Hard Going Children In The Past Prejudices Hard

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

There are still times in my life where I pull back from being totally honest, and I can't imagine a single straight person who would understand that. Ian Mckellen

Life My Life Single Back Would Totally Understand Still Times Person Being Where Straight Who Honest Imagine Pull

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

Hope Business Book People Worth Three Think Rings Taking Most Involved Because Lord Making Lord Of The Rings Comics Very Get Going Anything While Movies Century Realize Translating Really Successful Popular

If we just made one movie, 'The Hobbit,' the fact is that all the fans, the eight-, nine- and 10-year-old boys, they would watch it 1,000 times. Now, they've got three films they can watch 1,000 times. Ian Mckellen

Fans Made Three Films Nine Would Fact Boy Got Times Hobbit Just Eight Movie Now Watch

One school invited me down, as two pupils had come out, and the headmaster didn't know what to do about it. I said, 'How many students here are gay?' and he said, 'Just these two.' Clearly not. 'How many gay members of staff have you got?' He had no idea. And this was a concerned man. Ian Mckellen

Me Gay You Man School Down Members Out Pupils No Idea About Students Had He Idea Clearly Invited Come Know Concerned Said Got How Just Staff Many Here Two

Establishing the rights for gay people to be married would cost the Australian government nothing financially and would gain for you worldwide respect from people like us and, of course, would change lives enormously - the lives of gay people and of their friends and of their families and therefore of Australia as a whole. Ian Mckellen

Government Gay You Change Respect Rights People Nothing Worldwide Married Financially Would Cost Like Course Australia Australian Friends Families Establishing Gain Us Therefore Whole Lives

My own death threats have declined considerably. Ian Mckellen

Death Own Considerably Threats My Own Declined

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