--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I certainly wouldn't define myself as a…" description: "\"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, bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/ian-mckellen-1396_born_i-certainly-wouldn-t-define-myself-as-a_2978145.jpg" --- # I certainly wouldn't define myself as a northerner. I'm… ![“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.” quote by Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/ian-mckellen-1396_born_i-certainly-wouldn-t-define-myself-as-a_2978145.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/ian-mckellen-1396_born_i-certainly-wouldn-t-define-myself-as-a_2978145.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/ian-mckellen-1396_born_i-certainly-wouldn-t-define-myself-as-a_2978145.jpg) > “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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker expresses uncertainty about regional identity, emphasizing personal authenticity over labels, despite long residence in London. **In simple terms:** Identity is personal, not defined by geography. Key Takeaway Stay true to yourself regardless of labels. Themes identity authenticity regionalism self‑definition belonging Mood thoughtful introspective authentic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - acting roles - public speaking - writing memoirs - community involvement Key Concepts philosophy of self cultural identity personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - How does your environment shape your sense of self? - Do you think regional labels matter to others? A Different Perspective May underplay the influence of cultural context on self‑perception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Define Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/define-myself/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/london/) ## Related quotes > [Where I grew up in the North-east, the community there, and the way people relate to one another, goes very deep. But I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-mckee/where-i-grew-up-in-the-north-east-the-community-there-and-the-way/) [Gina McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-mckee/) > [London has a 50 per cent female population so we want to aim long term to have 50 per cent female officers. It's good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cressida-dick/london-has-a-50-per-cent-female-population-so-we-want-to-aim-long/) [Cressida Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cressida-dick/) > [“Every northerner is worth ten of these southron swords,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/every-northerner-is-worth-ten-of-these-southron-swords/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [A common misperception of me is... that I am a tough, rough northerner, which I suppose I am really. But I'm pretty mild-mannered most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-bean/a-common-misperception-of-me-is-that-i-am-a-tough-rough-northerner/) [Sean Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-bean/) > [I've always been ballsy. My dad is a blunt northerner, and maybe I've got a bit of that in me. I just kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suranne-jones/i-ve-always-been-ballsy-my-dad-is-a-blunt-northerner-and-maybe-i-ve/) [Suranne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suranne-jones/) > [I'm still very much a Northerner. I try to have chips and gravy twice a week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/i-m-still-very-much-a-northerner-i-try-to-have-chips-and-gravy-twice/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [Really, I still just think of myself as a Northerner, ultimately. It's in my DNA. I'll always have those Northern qualities. We can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-headey/really-i-still-just-think-of-myself-as-a-northerner-ultimately-it-s/) [Lena Headey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-headey/) > [I've lived all over London, as I like moving from place to place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-linley/i-ve-lived-all-over-london-as-i-like-moving-from-place-to-place/) [David Linley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-linley/) > [I lived in London for small amounts of time, and in Florida and New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-prager/i-lived-in-london-for-small-amounts-of-time-and-in-florida-and-new/) [Alex Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-prager/) > [I live in Surrey, but up until the age of eight I lived in London. And the way I heard about this 'Peter Pan'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hurd-wood/i-live-in-surrey-but-up-until-the-age-of-eight-i-lived-in-london-and/) [Rachel Hurd-Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hurd-wood/) > [I had lived in that part of London that used to be called Islington since I was eight. 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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/) [Explore all 247 Ian Mckellen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) ## More Born quotes > [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [The real world out there isn't nearly as nice as some people prefer it to be, so don't swallow everything your high-born teachers tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-world-out-there-isn-t-nearly-as-nice-as-some-people-prefer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anybody looking for a quiet life has picked the wrong century to born in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anybody-looking-for-a-quiet-life-has-picked-the-wrong-century-to-born/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was born and raised in Orlando, where the economy and culture has been powerfully shaped by tourism, and so I've long been interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-was-born-and-raised-in-orlando-where-the-economy-and-culture-has/) [Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/) > [I know that in the rap game you've got a lot of people, that come from poverty, was born in poverty and if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-connor/i-know-that-in-the-rap-game-you-ve-got-a-lot-of-people-that-come-from/) [Jon Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-connor/) > [Nothing old is ever reborn but neither does it totally disappear. And that which has once been born, will always reappear in a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/nothing-old-is-ever-reborn-but-neither-does-it-totally-disappear-and/) [Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [For the glory born of Goodness Never dies, And its flag is not half-masted In the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/for-the-glory-born-of-goodness-never-dies-and-its-flag-is-not-half/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. 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