---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Until I came out, my acting was all about…"
description: "\"Until I came out, my acting was all about disguise, and thereafter it became about telling the truth.\" — Ian Mckellen"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/ian-mckellen-1396_about_until-i-came-out-my-acting-was-all-about_110959.jpg"
---

#  Until I came out, my acting was all about disguise, and…

![“Until I came out, my acting was all about disguise, and thereafter it became about telling the truth.” quote by Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/ian-mckellen-1396_about_until-i-came-out-my-acting-was-all-about_110959.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/ian-mckellen-1396_about_until-i-came-out-my-acting-was-all-about_110959.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/ian-mckellen-1396_about_until-i-came-out-my-acting-was-all-about_110959.jpg)

> “Until I came out, my acting was all about disguise, and thereafter it became about telling the truth.”

[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.

Describes a personal shift from hiding true identity to embracing authenticity in artistic expression.

**In simple terms:** Truthful performance follows self‑acceptance.

Key Takeaway

Authenticity unlocks deeper artistic honesty.

Themes

identity authenticity art self‑discovery

Mood

reflective empowering

Type

personal testimony artistic philosophy

When to use this quote

- coming‑out narratives
- actor’s method workshops
- support groups for LGBTQ+ artists

Key Concepts

psychology of performance cultural stigma

Practical Applications

- encourage storytelling that reflects lived experience
- create safe spaces for personal revelation

Questions to Reflect On

- How does personal truth affect audience connection?
- What risks accompany revealing one’s true self?

A Different Perspective

Authenticity may clash with market expectations or typecasting.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Disguise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disguise/) [Telling the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-the-truth/) [Thereafter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thereafter/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/)

## Related quotes

> [The theatre has always been to me a place where beautiful lies are told, and playwrighting the orchestration of platitudes around a central flaw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-ludlam/the-theatre-has-always-been-to-me-a-place-where-beautiful-lies-are/)

[Charles Ludlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-ludlam/)

> [I was a bit scared because I came from the acting world. There was a fear that people would think of me kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-kramer/i-was-a-bit-scared-because-i-came-from-the-acting-world-there-was-a/)

[Jana Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-kramer/)

> [I came to acting as a sort of fluke. I really enjoy it, but I think I'm different from the people who dreamed about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-plumb/i-came-to-acting-as-a-sort-of-fluke-i-really-enjoy-it-but-i-think-i-m/)

[Eve Plumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-plumb/)

> [I came into acting with that sort of dull, meet-with-triumph-and-disaster-the-same philosophy and it's been the right one for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-sives/i-came-into-acting-with-that-sort-of-dull-meet-with-triumph-and/)

[Jamie Sives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-sives/)

> [My first agent told me to change my name or I'd only play Jewish parts or Indians. Of course I refused to change it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-throne/my-first-agent-told-me-to-change-my-name-or-i-d-only-play-jewish/)

Malachi Throne

> [Everyone has their dates. For me, it's 1991. I can place every memory of my life either before or after this date. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-louboutin/everyone-has-their-dates-for-me-it-s-1991-i-can-place-every-memory-of-2/)

[Christian Louboutin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-louboutin/)

> [Beast Books will be longer than conventional long-form magazine articles but shorter than conventional nonfiction books. They will be published digitally and distributed on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-brown/beast-books-will-be-longer-than-conventional-long-form-magazine/)

[Tina Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-brown/)

> [The most important part of the process of mourning is regularly reciting kaddish in a synagogue. Kaddish is a doxology, which Jewish tradition has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-novak/the-most-important-part-of-the-process-of-mourning-is-regularly/)

[David Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-novak/)

> [I was 11 when a teacher suggested to my parents that they should send me to drama classes to curb my disruptive ways in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/i-was-11-when-a-teacher-suggested-to-my-parents-that-they-should-send/)

[David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/)

> [“People want the here and now, rather than the there and after; as most are living in the where and what.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/people-want-the-here-and-now-rather-than-the-there-and-after-as-most/)

[Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/)

> [I was first imprisoned in Pretoria, and then, thereafter, I was taken to Robben Island. I stayed there for a couple of weeks. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-was-first-imprisoned-in-pretoria-and-then-thereafter-i-was-taken-to/)

[Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/)

> [The President is of opinion that if Japan makes a treaty with the United States, all other foreign countries will make the same kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/townsend-harris/the-president-is-of-opinion-that-if-japan-makes-a-treaty-with-the/)

[Townsend Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/townsend-harris/)

> [In an ideal world, the perfect biographical subject would have been the star of his penmanship class at grade school - and would thereafter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/in-an-ideal-world-the-perfect-biographical-subject-would-have-been/)

[Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/)

> [We... our war began September the 3rd 1939, with the invasion of Poland by Germany, and thereafter the great state of danger in England…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/we-our-war-began-september-the-3rd-1939-with-the-invasion-of-poland/)

[Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/)

> [There is nothing more inimical to writing than the spirit of fundamentalism. Fundamentalism abhors the play of signs, the endlessness of writing. Fundamentalism means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee-2/there-is-nothing-more-inimical-to-writing-than-the-spirit-of/)

[J. M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee-2/)

## 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/)

> [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/)

> [Doing some of the 'Lord Of The Rings' press junkets got a bit claustrophobic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/doing-some-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-press-junkets-got-a-bit/)

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

[Explore all 247 Ian Mckellen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

Browse all 26,122 About quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Until I came out, my acting was all about disguise, and thereafter it became about telling the truth.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ian Mckellen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/until-i-came-out-my-acting-was-all-about-disguise-and-thereafter-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/until-i-came-out-my-acting-was-all-about-disguise-and-thereafter-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/ian-mckellen-1396_about_until-i-came-out-my-acting-was-all-about_110959.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/ian-mckellen-1396_about_until-i-came-out-my-acting-was-all-about_110959.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/ian-mckellen-1396_about_until-i-came-out-my-acting-was-all-about_110959.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Until I came out, my acting was all about disguise, and thereafter it became about telling the truth.” — Ian Mckellen",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ian Mckellen",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Until I came out, my acting...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/until-i-came-out-my-acting-was-all-about-disguise-and-thereafter-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/until-i-came-out-my-acting-was-all-about-disguise-and-thereafter-it/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
