Ian McKellen Reveals Alec Guinness Advised Him Against Supporting Gay
Years before his starring roles in The Lord of the Rings and X-Men, Ian McKellen met with Star Wars' original Obi-Wan actor Alec Guinness, who advised him to drop support for a gay rights charity.
Years before his starring roles in The Lord of the Rings and X-Men, Ian McKellen met with Star Wars' original Obi-Wan actor Alec Guinness, who advised him to drop support for a gay rights charity.
Years before his iconic roles, Ian McKellen had a meeting with Alec Guinness, the original Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars. During a lunch, Guinness suggested that McKellen should refrain from supporting Stonewall, a prominent gay rights charity, believing actors should steer clear of political involvement. McKellen shared this anecdote in an interview with The Guardian when asked about the worst advice he had ever received.
The meeting's exact date remains uncertain, but it is speculated to have taken place around 1989, coinciding with Stonewall's establishment. Over the years, Stonewall played a pivotal role in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, contributing to significant legislative changes in the UK. Alec Guinness, a distinguished actor who passed away in 2000, had a decorated career in film and received various prestigious awards, including an Academy Award and a knighthood.
Currently, Ian McKellen is part of the cast of The Christophers, a film centered on siblings scheming to enhance their late father's unfinished artworks' value. Fans can also anticipate his return as Magneto in Avengers: Doomsday, set for a December release, and as Gandalf in the upcoming film The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.
