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
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
There have been many gay knights in the past - like Sir Noel Coward or Sir John Gielgud. — 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's only fair that stable gay relationships of long standing should have the same rights and responsibilities as married couples. I know… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
The battle going on over gay marriage in America reveals an awful lot. The Bible belt - people hate gay people. Because… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
The conventional wisdom is that if you are gay, you cannot play the romantic straight lead in a movie. — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
I think it's one thing to declare your sexuality, if you care about what that is. It's another thing to start talking… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
It was wrongly assumed that I wished to become some sort of leader among gay activists, whereas in reality I was happier… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
I have been reluctant to lobby on other issues I most care about - nuclear weapons (against), religion (atheist), capital punishment (anti),… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
In the U.K. there is still work to be done, particularly in schools, stopping the homophobic bullies in the playground and introducing… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
One school invited me down, as two pupils had come out, and the headmaster didn't know what to do about it. I… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
In the '50s and '60s, the life of a gay man was a secret. Homosexuality was illegal, so you didn't draw attention… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
I am going around British secondary schools, as a gay man talking about my life, and encouraging schools to get rid of… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
I'm dead against the idea that you should try to "cure" people of being gay. — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
In the old-fashioned sitcoms, to be gay was, in itself, funny, and you laughed at the characters rather than with them. — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
Thanks to every gay person in public and non-public life who has come out. — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
The demographic of our audience is young. It also contains a high proportion of black, Jewish and gay people, who have all… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
The huge difference in my lifetime is that you can just go up to somebody and make a pass. You couldn't do… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
There is a fantasy as old as the modern gay rights movement that if all our skins turned lavender overnight, the majority,… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
Establishing the rights for gay people to be married would cost the Australian government nothing financially and would gain for you worldwide… — 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
In the past, kids didn't tell their parents they were gay, so there were never the bust-ups. Some parents react so strongly… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
I've had enough of being a gay icon! I've had enough of all this hard work, because, since I came out, I… — 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 Image
It's my impression that I've done every job that I've been asked to do. — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
I'm fortunate to be famous for two rather imposing characters like Magneto and Gandalf. — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
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 Image
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 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 lines and… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
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 Image
You might be surprised by how interested young people are in older people. — 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 it. Not… — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
Until I came out, my acting was all about disguise, and thereafter it became about telling the truth. — Ian Mckellen Copy Share Image
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 Image
