If Gandalf from Lord of the Rings and Magneto from X-Men were two of the most memorable characters in cinema, the credit goes to Ian McKellen. Apart from portraying these iconic roles, the British veteran has made a mark in Hollywood and world cinema as one of the greatest theater and screen actors over many decades. McKellen is also one of the few actors of his generation who came out as openly gay during the 1980s and has since been an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.
The X-Men star once used his identity to school, Will Smith, when the Men In Black actor was still an upcoming star. Smith, who starred in Six Degrees of Separation with Ian McKellen, was humbled by his co-actor in a unique way after refusing to be involved in a gay scene.
Ian McKellen Once Taught Will Smith A Lesson
Back in 1993, Ian McKellen and a young Will Smith starred together in Six Degrees of Separation inspired by the real-life story of David Hampton, a con man and robber who convinced a number of people in the 1980s that he was the son of actor Sidney Poitier. The film also had other big names like Donald Sutherland. Smith who portrayed the role of a gay man, had reservations about doing a kissing scene with his male co-star Anthony Michael Hall. The scene was eventually changed due to his reluctance. His other co-actor and openly gay star Ian McKellen did not approve of Smith’s behavior and decided to teach him a lesson. Recalling the incident, McKellen said,
“He was a charmer, and a good actor. But he did one silly thing: he refused to kiss another boy on screen, even though it was there in the script. Which was why, at an early preview, I met him in public outside the cinema and gave him a great big kiss on the lips.”
Smith later went on to confess that he regretted having refused to do the scene especially since he was an actor who immersed himself into every role he was given.
Ian McKellen Surprised A Lucky Fan
It isn’t everyday that fans get to meet their idols. But for 22 year old Ben Coyles, fate favored him by making him run into Ian McKellen by sheer chance. The young student who was celebrating his birthday, was dressed in the attire of McKellen’s famous character Gandalf from Lord of the Rings. As he was heading out of the pub, Coyles accidentally bumped into someone on the road who happened to be none other than Ian McKellen himself. The student who couldn’t believe his luck, recalled the incident and said,
‘It was incredible. It took a second to recognize that it was him. We were on a pub crawl at the time, but it was an amazing coincidence like the universe giving me a birthday present, I was pretty speechless for the rest of the evening, and starstruck”.
Ian McKellen for his part, made his fan ever more happy by having a pleasant conversation while walking alongside him for a brief stroll.
Source: Time Out
