Interview With Sir Ian McKellen
by Michael Jensen, September 27, 2006
Few actors can boast successful careers spanning five years, much less five decades. And even fewer can claim success playing everything from long dead monarchs (Richard III in Richard III) to superheroes (Magneto in the X-Men series) to fantasy figures (Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy) to a gay man in a concentration camp (Uncle Freddie in Bent). And only one can claim to have done all that as an openly gay man. That man is Sir Ian McKellen, arguably the most famous gay actor in the world.
But Sir Ian hasn't settled for just becoming a household name. He has sought to use the power of his celebrity to fight homophobia and anti-gay discrimination around the world. He spoke out in 1988 against the United Kingdom's homophobic legislation known as Section 28, and he continues to speak out today against intolerance everywhere. AfterElton.com recently had the opportunity to talk with Sir Ian about his career, politics and a whole host of other topics in a wide-ranging discussion.
AfterElton.com: How does it feel being named the most influential gay man in Britain, having topped the Pink List?
Ian McKellen: I don't pay much attention to these lists. I think the significance of it is going on 20 years ago when I came out and we started Stonewall in the U.K., which tries to influence legal and social change in regard to gays and lesbians. [Twenty years ago] the only stories you ever read in the newspapers were entirely negative. Gay people were only treated as news items if some sensation had occurred. That really has changed, at least in the U.K., and it would be a very brave newspaper these days that only treated gays and lesbians as a matter of sensation. But me being number one [laughs] — what does it mean? Not a lot in real terms. [Laughs.] I have very little interest in that. … There are so many other distinguished people on the list it doesn't really make sense. But I'm not grumbling.
AE: What I think they are acknowledging is that you have truly used fame for positive change.
IM: Steady on — the people who, in very small print, are identified as choosing me and others on the list does include three of my close friends. [Laughs.] Perhaps [they] just wanted to give me a little present.
AE: Do you get tired of being labeled as …
IM: It was surprising thing to me that when I came out, I was suddenly sought out by the media at large to be the representative of many millions of other people. And I never pretended that was the perfect thing for me or anyone else to be thought of [as the representative of millions]. I'm not. I just happen to have a public profile which gives my views more importance than they deserve.
Indeed, other gays and lesbians who've been in the field of gay rights before I was — some of them were rather knocked and upset — particularly when I went on my own to talk to the then prime minister, John Major, at his invitation, about gay issues. Great offense was taken. I think, upon reflection, probably rightly. It's not up to one person to present the case. It needs a movement. That's really what my contribution has been: to start Stonewall in the very room from which I'm speaking to you. That is a group, which unelected, that has represented us all magnificently. Being a professional organization, it has the time and expertise to do that. My contribution is just to be a part of that process. On occasion I'm the spokesperson, which I'm happy to do, but I try to make the case that I'm not just speaking for myself.
Page 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 - Next
