Actors don't, in fact, retire, do they? It took me a while to remember that. — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
When I left Cambridge, I applied to regional repertory theaters in the U.K. and got accepted by one of them... And here… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
I know actors who have had to turn down good roles because they just don't pay enough. It's hard. — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
There are a lot of actors - I'm probably one - who are most at home when they're on stage. — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
The press like to talk to actors. They mustn't be surprised when actors talk back to them. — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
I love musicals; I love the ballet, opera, the circus. It's all performance to me. — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
Acting is no longer about lying. It's now about revealing the truth. People are at ease with me now. Honesty is the… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
[There's] nothing special about an actor's imagination, except that he uses it a lot. — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
Even now, there are young actors who want careers as romantic leading men, and the best thing is not to reveal you're… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
It is very, very, very difficult for an American actor who wants a film career to be open about his sexuality. And… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
I don't any longer make any quality judgement between theater and cinema. They are different experiences for the audience, and they also… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
Before I ever acted as an amateur - which I did a great deal at school and at university - I used… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
Before acting, I wanted to become a journalist. I also toyed with the idea of being a chef - but that's only… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
There are some tremendous actors in the U.K. who have been knighted, and I've spent much of my life admiring many of… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
You won't hear me talk about my politics, you won't hear me talk about my vegetarianism, you won't hear me comment on… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
What I particularly like about Broadway is the camaraderie and the friendship of other people in other shows. Everybody knows you're opening… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
There are not many things in my life I can be absolutely proud of or certain I got right, but one of… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
I'm cheaper than Anthony Hopkins. The other actors they asked to play Gandalf wouldn't go to New Zealand on that money for… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
On the whole, actors shout when they don't know what they're doing, trying to make an impact. — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
Every time you work is a challenge. There's a constant worry about it, and it's a side of acting I don't like. — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
I used to comfort myself when I became an actor that it was a useful job, entertaining people. And it was important… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
For old actors, just remember that inside you're only 14. Acting is for kids. You poor old grown-ups, you've forgotten how to… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
Gandalf's a good guy, and it's a good part. He says the right things, he believes the right things. An actor can… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
Most actors are not rich - they are very poor indeed. What keeps them going is that they just love the job. — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
The performance is created by the director. The actor is the material. And I think that has to be true. — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
I'm only an actor. I'm not a writer. I'm not going to leave any legacy. All I've ever done is learn the… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
Imagine trying to be a gay actor, a gay anything in modern Russia? Where to be positively oneself, to be affectionate in… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
The one thing you can ask, I think, is that actors get paid a living wage. I would like it if all… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
The strength of British theatre should be that these actors in their middle years know what they're doing and are good at… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
I can't take on all the worries of the world, you know. I can only talk about being gay and being an… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
There are some tremendous actors in the U.K. who have been knighted, and I've spent much of my life admiring many of… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
Theatre is relatively easy if you're British - you're living in the theatre capital of the world, London - there are so… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
I've always longed for the theatre and acting to be popular. No actor wants to play to an empty house. We only do it… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share
I'm fortunate to be famous for two rather imposing characters like Magneto and Gandalf. — Ian Mckellen Copy Share
If you are playing King Lear you are the centre of attention anyway. You don't need to draw attention to yourself. It's all laid… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share
Godot is whatever it is in life that you are waiting for: 'I'm waiting to win the lottery. I'm waiting to fall in love'.… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share
I'm only an actor. I'm not a writer. I'm not going to leave any legacy. All I've ever done is learn the lines and… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share
I'd never read 'Lord of the Rings' until I was asked to play Gandalf, so I didn't really know it was a frightfully famous… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share
The strength of British theatre should be that these actors in their middle years know what they're doing and are good at it. Not… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share
Until I came out, my acting was all about disguise, and thereafter it became about telling the truth. — Ian Mckellen Copy Share
Elijah looks angelic but his beauty of spirit is what makes his Frodo leap out of the screen. Unalloyed goodness is one of the… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share
When I appeared in 'Coronation Street,' I lived in Manchester and enjoyed it very much. — Ian Mckellen Copy Share
Before acting, I wanted to become a journalist. I also toyed with the idea of being a chef - but that's only when people… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share
![“[There's] nothing special about an actor's imagination, except that he uses it a lot.” quote by Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/8f1/ian-mckellen-1396_actor_there-s-nothing-special-about-an-actor-s_149894.jpg)
