Ian McKellen

Sir **Ian Murray McKellen** CH CBE is an English actor. In *Extras*, he portrays a fictionalised version of himself in the second season episode 'Sir Ian McKellen'.

McKellen's career spans seven decades, having performed in genres ranging from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. Over his career he has received numerous awards including seven Laurence Olivier Awards, a Tony Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He has also received nominations for two Academy Awards, five Primetime Emmy Awards, and four BAFTAs. He achieved worldwide fame for his film roles, including the titular King in *Richard III* (1995), James Whale in *Gods and Monsters* (1998), Magneto in the *X-Men* films, and Gandalf in *The Lord of the Rings* and *The Hobbit* trilogies.

The BBC states that his "performances have guaranteed him a place in the canon of English stage and film actors". A recipient of every major theatrical award in the UK, McKellen is regarded as a British cultural icon. He started his professional career in 1961 at the Belgrade Theatre as a member of their highly regarded repertory company. In 1965, McKellen made his first West End appearance. In 1969, he was invited to join the Prospect Theatre Company to play the lead parts in Shakespeare's *Richard II* and Marlowe's *Edward II*, and he firmly established himself as one of the country's foremost classical actors. In the 1970s, McKellen became a stalwart of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre of Great Britain. In 1981 he received his first Tony Award nomination and win for Best Actor in a Play for his role as Antonio Salieri in *Amadeus*.

McKellen was knighted in the 1980 New Year Honours for services to the performing arts, and made a Companion of Honour for services to drama and to equality in the 2008 New Year Honours. He came out as gay in 1988, and has since championed LGBT social movements worldwide. He was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in October 2014.

## Personality

Ian McKellen is directing an off-West End theatrical production entitled *A Month of Summers*, starring Andy alongside a man named Fran as characters in a homosexual relationship. Ian first meets Andy at a workshop with the other actors, having been introduced via Andy's agent Darren. Andy quickly discovers that Fran is a man, not a woman, and learns the plot of the play which he is not too keen on. When Andy lets Ian know that he is not a homosexual, Ian reassures him that he can still portray one, giving a overly simplistic and patronising explanation of acting to Andy, using Ian's role as Gandalf in the *Lord of the Rings* film franchise as an example.

On the night of the premiere, Ian meets with Andy in his dressing room and embarasses him in front of his old school friend Steve Sherwood, who previously made jokes about Andy's sexuality. As a last minute addition to the plot, Ian suggests that Andy's character and Fran share a kiss towards the end of the play. Andy is firmly against the idea, but Ian insists and pushes on with the addition.

Andy performs in the play without any major problems, despite his visible discomfort. When the kiss scene of the play arrives, Andy backs out and breaks character, despite Fran – in character – insisting on the kiss and Ian actively pushing Andy to keep him on stage. Andy mortifies Ian but more so himself, and ruins the production right at its conclusion, much to the sheer disappointment of Ian.

Ian McKellen is homosexual in real life, although he has not starred or directed a play focused on such a theme as featured in *A Month of Summers*; instead he has acted in various Royal Shakespeare Company productions since his comeback to theatre in 2007. Despite his prolific status in theater, McKellen is not an established theatrical director, and has no directorial credits to his name in that regard. His work on *A Month of Summers* in *Extras* is likely a reference to his services to the LGBT community in real life, as well as his reputation as a contributor to the theatre industry.

## Gallery

Ian McKellen explains his overly simplistic acting technique to Andy