Actor Reflects on His Encounter with the Queen and Recent Fall Leading to Tour Cancellation
Ian McKellen, the legendary actor known for his iconic roles on stage and screen, has shared an unexpected anecdote about Queen Elizabeth II, describing her as "bloody rude" during a memorable encounter. In an interview with The Times of London, McKellen recounted how the Queen's remarks during a medal presentation left him taken aback.
During the ceremony, the Queen commented, "You’ve been doing this for an awfully long time," to which McKellen humorously replied, "Well, not as long as you." However, her follow-up question, "Does anyone still actually go to the theatre?" struck the actor as dismissive. Reflecting on the moment, McKellen noted, "That’s bloody rude when you’re giving someone a medal for acting. It felt like a way of saying, 'Does anyone care about you because I don’t.'"
Despite his sharp critique, McKellen acknowledged the challenges of royal life, observing that the royals are "in prison, unable to do anything normal."
At 85, McKellen also revealed that he was offered a chance to reprise his famous role as Gandalf in Andy Serkis’s upcoming Lord of the Rings films. Serkis, best known for his portrayal of Gollum, is set to direct the new project.
In June, McKellen's stage performance of Player Kings at London’s Noel Coward Theatre ended abruptly after a fall that resulted in a fractured wrist and vertebra, forcing him to cancel the remainder of the tour.
