---
title: "2 Recognized Quotes By Ian Mckellen"
description: "2 Recognized quotes by Ian Mckellen. Plus more from Ian Mckellen and more Recognized sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/ian-mckellen-1396_been_if-you-ve-been-in-a-film-that-s-seen-by_193849.jpg"
---

> [If you've been in a film that's seen by millions and millions and millions of people, you're more likely to be recognized for that than for your theater performances, which were seen by considerably less people. Why would I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/if-you-ve-been-in-a-film-that-s-seen-by-millions-and-millions-and/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/ian-mckellen-1396_been_if-you-ve-been-in-a-film-that-s-seen-by_193849.jpg)

> [I'm not someone who wears shades all the time and ducks into a darkened car in case I'm recognized - that would be absolute misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-m-not-someone-who-wears-shades-all-the-time-and-ducks-into-a/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e2/ian-mckellen-1396_absolute_i-m-not-someone-who-wears-shades-all-the_2751220.jpg)

## More by Ian Mckellen

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-ve-always-longed-for-the-theatre-and-acting-to-be-popular-no-actor/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

> [It's my impression that I've done every job that I've been asked to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/it-s-my-impression-that-i-ve-done-every-job-that-i-ve-been-asked-to-do/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

> [I'm fortunate to be famous for two rather imposing characters like Magneto and Gandalf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-m-fortunate-to-be-famous-for-two-rather-imposing-characters-like/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

> [Tolkien is as good as Dickens at sketching a scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/tolkien-is-as-good-as-dickens-at-sketching-a-scene/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/if-you-are-playing-king-lear-you-are-the-centre-of-attention-anyway/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

> [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'.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/godot-is-whatever-it-is-in-life-that-you-are-waiting-for-i-m-waiting/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-m-only-an-actor-i-m-not-a-writer-i-m-not-going-to-leave-any-legacy/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-d-never-read-lord-of-the-rings-until-i-was-asked-to-play-gandalf-so/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

> [You might be surprised by how interested young people are in older people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/you-might-be-surprised-by-how-interested-young-people-are-in-older/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-strength-of-british-theatre-should-be-that-these-actors-in-their/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

> [Until I came out, my acting was all about disguise, and thereafter it became about telling the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/until-i-came-out-my-acting-was-all-about-disguise-and-thereafter-it/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

> [Elijah looks angelic but his beauty of spirit is what makes his Frodo leap out of the screen. Unalloyed goodness is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/elijah-looks-angelic-but-his-beauty-of-spirit-is-what-makes-his-frodo/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

> ['The Lego Movie?' I've never heard of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-lego-movie-i-ve-never-heard-of-it/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

> [When I appeared in 'Coronation Street,' I lived in Manchester and enjoyed it very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/when-i-appeared-in-coronation-street-i-lived-in-manchester-and/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

> [Before acting, I wanted to become a journalist. I also toyed with the idea of being a chef - but that's only when people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/before-acting-i-wanted-to-become-a-journalist-i-also-toyed-with-the/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

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