--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was playing Gandalf, I didn't…" description: "\"When I was playing Gandalf, I didn't think, 'Oh my dear, I'm playing a 7,000 year old wizard,' because I've never met one, and I don't know what they'r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/ian-mckellen-1396_because_when-i-was-playing-gandalf-i-didn-t-thin_2035399.jpg" --- # When I was playing Gandalf, I didn't think, 'Oh my dear… ![“When I was playing Gandalf, I didn't think, 'Oh my dear, I'm playing a 7,000 year old wizard,' because I've never met one, and I don't know what they're like.” quote by Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/ian-mckellen-1396_because_when-i-was-playing-gandalf-i-didn-t-thin_2035399.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/ian-mckellen-1396_because_when-i-was-playing-gandalf-i-didn-t-thin_2035399.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/ian-mckellen-1396_because_when-i-was-playing-gandalf-i-didn-t-thin_2035399.jpg) > “When I was playing Gandalf, I didn't think, 'Oh my dear, I'm playing a 7,000 year old wizard,' because I've never met one, and I don't know what they're like.” [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. He approached the role without relying on stereotypes, focusing on authentic performance rather than imagined age. **In simple terms:** He acted naturally, not as a 7,000‑year‑old wizard. Key Takeaway Treat characters as people, not clichés. Themes acting authenticity imagination Mood thoughtful reflective Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - theatre - film - role preparation Key Concepts method acting character immersion Questions to Reflect On - How do you avoid letting stereotypes shape your work? - What benefits arise from focusing on authenticity? A Different Perspective May lose nuance of character’s mythic background. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Wizard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wizard/) ## Related quotes > [“The wicked old wizard must be slain to break the curse and set the people free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-earl/the-wicked-old-wizard-must-be-slain-to-break-the-curse-and-set-the/) Richie Earl > [“That's the only one left. That nice old wizard who used to live there---" "Egbert the Onion?" "Even when he thought he was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sage-blackwood/that-s-the-only-one-left-that-nice-old-wizard-who-used-to-live-there/) [Sage Blackwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sage-blackwood/) > [Fenworth nodded. "Yes, yes. Urgent, deadly, insidious. The world is in peril and we must rise against evil." The old wizard released the general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donita-k-paul/fenworth-nodded-yes-yes-urgent-deadly-insidious-the-world-is-in-peril/) [Donita K. Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donita-k-paul/) > [THE 2,000-YEAR-OLD MAN'S SECRETS OF LONGEVITY 1. Don't run for a bus - there'll always be another. 2. Never, ever touch fried food. 3.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/the-2-000-year-old-man-s-secrets-of-longevity-1-don-t-run-for-a-bus/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [I have a 10,000-year-old brain and the boogers of a 7-year-old. That's how I describe myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/i-have-a-10-000-year-old-brain-and-the-boogers-of-a-7-year-old-that-s/) [Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/) > [As a kid, I always loved Mel Brooks' stuff - 'The 2,000 Year Old Man' record was something my dad put me onto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-gondelman/as-a-kid-i-always-loved-mel-brooks-stuff-the-2-000-year-old-man/) [Josh Gondelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-gondelman/) > [The idea is to become an old wizard; to live a long and fruitful life and have family and be healthy and enjoy the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-idea-is-to-become-an-old-wizard-to-live-a-long-and-fruitful-life/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [“In the 40,000 year time scale we're all the same people. We're all equally primitive, give or take two or three thousand years here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-snyder/in-the-40-000-year-time-scale-we-re-all-the-same-people-we-re-all/) [Gary Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-snyder/) > [“Gandalf!' cried Frodo, sitting up. There was the old wizard, sitting in a chair by an open window. 'Yes,' he said, 'I am here.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/gandalf-cried-frodo-sitting-up-there-was-the-old-wizard-sitting-in-a/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [I have documented even 3,000 year-old-recipes which I stumbled upon during my research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chef-damu/i-have-documented-even-3-000-year-old-recipes-which-i-stumbled-upon/) [Chef Damu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chef-damu/) > [I often get mistaken for Dumbledore. One wizard is very much like another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-often-get-mistaken-for-dumbledore-one-wizard-is-very-much-like/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [There is no number or level of success that would make me think, 'Wow, I didn't think that was possible.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-max/there-is-no-number-or-level-of-success-that-would-make-me-think-wow-i/) [Tucker Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-max/) > [When I came out of school I didn't even think that modeling was a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-klum/when-i-came-out-of-school-i-didn-t-even-think-that-modeling-was-a-job/) [Heidi Klum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-klum/) > [I really didn't think anything would come out of doing stand-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/i-really-didn-t-think-anything-would-come-out-of-doing-stand-up/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [I didn't think it was possible for Asians to be actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/i-didn-t-think-it-was-possible-for-asians-to-be-actors/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) ## 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/) [Explore all 247 Ian Mckellen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) ## More Because quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. 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I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I was also known as Frodo because I was an early adopter of 'The Lord of the Rings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perrotta/i-was-also-known-as-frodo-because-i-was-an-early-adopter-of-the-lord/) [Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [Sometimes, when full and in fear that I will continue to eat unwanted food just because it's staring at me, I will place my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-nichols/sometimes-when-full-and-in-fear-that-i-will-continue-to-eat-unwanted/) [Rachel Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-nichols/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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