People can be cruel regardless of their orientation. Watch out for people who will use this logic to say that a certain group of people are particularly worse than others, you will find it even here in this thread.
@@WalksBehindTheRowsI've had a different experience. In fact I'd say that the most shallow and cruel people I've met were straight rather than gay, and most of my gay friends are good people. I would never use that to make a generalizing claim about straight people because that would just be uneducated.
I don't believe it comprises our majority, but, yes, many of our fellow gays can be quite dismissive and supercilious. Also, snide and unduly passive-aggressive. Like OP, my circle of friends is overwhelmingly heterosexual. I have found it difficult to cultivate, let alone sustain more than two dear, gay friends.
It really resonated with me when he said he didn't feel angry until afterwards. It's like how people who are abused may not even realise they're being abused until it stops. I'm 38, spent my whole childhood under Section 28 and the horrific climate it enabled. I never felt angry because I didn't understand how wrong it was, I was just scared. It's not until recently that I've come to understand how profoundly it damaged me, and not just me. My friends, peers, the wider community - so many idiosyncrasies that I just accepted as 'that's how gays are' I now recognise as coping mechanisms of trauma, distress and a stunted childhood. It's difficult to process the anger of injustice when its craven hypocritical architects are never really held to account.
You’ve put this into words very well. I’m 22 and recently came out as transgender. At first I was glad to finally be myself, and then I was mourning all the time I’d wasted being miserable, and then I became retroactively angry at all the people who’d stopped me from being happy as a child and teen. It didn’t upset me at the time because I didn’t know I could have it any other way, that I could be happy and loved as myself. I see the kids in my life being subjected to the same treatment and expectations, and my queer friends will say “It’s unfortunate, but you know we went through the same stuff and we ended up all right.” Are we all right? I came out relatively young and with very little problems, and I still feel messed up. I want to do everything I can to ensure that the next generation has what I would have needed to be a happy child.
So beautifully articulated. I wonder if all the people who were directly responsible for so much damage and pain -- including suicide -- will ever be held accountable. Here in the USA, we still haven't come to terms with the legacy of slavery even 160 years after the era. The greatest gift that South Africa gave to the human race is the very concept of "Truth and Reconciliation" commissions. How that country came to terms with its legacy without resulting in a bloodbath is one of the remarkable achievements of the 20th century.
the moment you understand what has been forced upon you and done to you, socially or physically, it really is a come to jesus moment. im 31, and when i put it together for myself when i was younger i know i had a bit of mental break. it can be hard to grasp still now.
Kudos to the interviewer for being able to keep calm and collected not just in front of such a legend but while asking such lovely questions and letting him answer in full.
He came to my school once and gave a talk. He told the room that he was gay and everyone was shocked! Shocked that he even mentioned it because no one cared. lol He smiled at that. Really nice guy.
He came to my office once. I worked for Shell in the Strand, London and "they" often used the top for film shoots . They never advertised that the small (4 I think) restaurants were unavailable on this days). Mine was pressing the wrong button in the rear lifts and there he was.
After he fell off the stage recently, I was worried that McKellen's health would not recover, as is often the case with people his age. Fortunately, he was wearing a fatsuit that absorbed most of the blow. He seems to have bounced back well. He's 85 and still very eloquent.I wish you the best, Ian. McKellen was also on social media from nearly the beginning. He started a blog in 2000 to document his experiences filming LOTR, when he was 60.
Physically he is amazing. I saw him in Hamlet about three years ago and he was running around the stage, which included an upper section with stairs. He was fitter than most men 20 years younger than himself.
@@tarafarrell46 Healthy living and lifestyle leads to having a lot of energy in your older years. Ian makes and (IIRC) grows his own food from a garden, and during the peak of Covid he was doing online Pilates classes to stay fit. Even after his fall, he recovered after 3 days in hospital. He's just a model human, imo.
Those were really thoughtful questions asked in a sober and respectful tone. Reminded me of how few true “journalists” are out there. Great job to the interviewer and thought-provoking answers from Sir Ian!
This was probably the most thought-provoking interview I've seen for a movie. Nice to see intelligent questions and thoughtful, careful answers. Ian is a true gentleman.
I worked with a director who was gay (deeply closeted) and not only was he hard on the gay actors but he even took advantage of some of them. It's tragic, but it definitely is a real thing that happens all too often
Forgive me, but when you say “deeply” closeted I question the veracity of your comment. After all, that could be said of many stage or film directors since way back when.
That part about being "happily cowed" and being more openly furious after coming out resonated with me a lot, particularly because I realised so early on, felt afraid to tell people, the people built up the confidence to tell reacted in myriad negative ways (two came around nearly a decade later) and I went back into hiding, I'm happier now than I ever was but I'm fucking furious that it took so long, went from hating myself from as early as I could remember to hating the world for making me hate myself, the way it took multiple attempts and that even today there's still people who'd try to force kids and adults who were in that position into that cramped, isolated shadow of a life
This is an unexpectedly strange and beautiful interview. The interviewer was obviously uncomfortable, intimidated perhaps interviewing such an important person. At the same time Sir Ian, was, I think, unusually candid and loose with his descriptions of himself, his work, and the film. I’ve noticed this in people who reach a certain age. There is a stage that the brain gets to I think where either there’s an inability to lie or perhaps it just doesn’t see the need, so it is open, even raw, in the way it expresses things and talks about itself. This tends to happens quite late in life, in a person’s 80s and 90s perhaps. In my experience sadly it’s often one of the last stages where the mind is truly and fully engaged. I suggest we all savour this moment because it might be gone sooner than any of us would like.
I work with senior citizens, and what you wrote is quite true. Some think this late in life "frankness" is due to the deterioration of the brain "filter" we all have in the frontal temporal lobe. I don't agree. I think people reach a certain age when they value TRUTH over image. They have nothing to "prove" anymore, and they don't care what others think of them. They also are interested in leaving some sort of "legacy" in this world, and what better legacy is there than raw truth and expressing what you truly think?
@@markmh835 I definitely saw this in my late grandma who fortunately didn’t have dementia unlike my other grandparents. She was always very honest and clear in her thoughts and worries in her late 80s. There’s no need to lie at that age.
I felt this of the interviewer too, but viewed it more from an angle of respect; I would imagine he's incredibly nervous and is probably holding a noteworthy admiration for Ian and just genuinely wanted it to go well. To not offend him in being too brazen or bore him with generic shallow questions, all while still trying to touch delicately on contentious topics for the sake of the insightful responses they can sometimes lead to. It really is a balancing act that's often weighted quite heavily in favour of the star, which must make it unbelievably nerve wrecking!
Ian it's a shame you don't watch yourself more easily, because your portrayal of Gandalf is a presence I look to and aspire to; the gentle strength, the kindness, playfulness and wisdom. Thank you. You basically filled the void left by Father Christmas!
Looking forward to seeing this. How surreal for him to have lived through those difficult times and now playing a part like this. But I have a little caveat. When you're as famous as Mckellen is you are going to be treated with a certain degree of respect that for most people living now, even with the culture having a better attitude, may still be denied. People are less likely to express their bigotry to your face but that doesn't mean the hate isn't still in the room. Very sad and disturbing to hear about gays behaving badly towards other gay people and people in general. I know personally about the anger and bitterness. Seeing populist far right movements rise up again is very concerning. Gay people are always a popular target. Some are not as strong as others and turn to drugs and alcohol. Very tragic. Mckellen is a positive light like Stephen Fry in a still too shaky existence for too many people. The real change must happen in the heart.
Interviewer did an amazaing job asking meaningful question, and Sir Ian McKellen did a great job explaining his experiences and feelings. love this, its very informative.
As schoolgirls we saw Hamlet starring Ian McKellen at the Grand Theatre Wolverhampton when he was a member of the Prospect Theatre Group (or was it called The Actor's company?). I believe it was in 1972. It was a school trip and a matinee. In fact the audience seemed to be mostly schoolchildren. Ian's performance went down a storm. The many encores at the end were by genuine audience demand. After the performance, one of my friends said she thought Ian McKellen was gay. We didn't know what made her think that but maybe he could have come out then though I guess he might have lost roles if he had. My thought in relation to that, when I did think about it, was maybe it because the emotional scenes with other men, where they involved tenderness rather than anger, were more convincing than similar emotional scenes with women, though there's not a lot of tenderness in Hamlet, but Ian McKellen found some. After that I watched plays with Ian McKellen whenever I could, Richard II, Edward II, The Alchemist, Richard III, Macbeth, Coriolanus, Bent, No Man's Land.
Wow, this interview was absolutely stunning, questions that feel like they’re actually part of a very good conversation while actually (not surprisingly from sir Ian) getting very insightful and thought provoking answers, this was amazing!
Thoughtful and intelligent questions. I did feel, however, that some of the questions were quite leading such that Ian tried politely to rephrase them in his responses. Just because the film has got a gay character doesn't mean it's necessarily a gay rights movie. This is a telling of a story like any other, only that it has a gay character in it.
Agreed. It was a great interview, don't get me wrong, but some questions were just previous ones rephrased, and some seemed to be pushing him to make some sort of a statement.
I don't know if it's that clear cut to be fair. It's Ian McKellen who first brings up that topic. In response to a question about a project that combines theatre and a film he talks about his experience as a gay man. It's also part of the film's story and, as evidenced by his answer to that first more unrelated question, something he has a lots of thoughts about. I thought it made sense for the interviewer to continue further into that direction and didn't find it overbearing. Imo at least we can't really call it having 'an agenda' (not smth OP said but someone else in the thread) if it's so clearly relevant to the subjectmatter and the actor you're interviewing.
Ian saying he was "happily a coward" kinda hits. I'm closeted in the public about me being trans non binary. My voice is deeper on hrt sure but I still look like a woman, which I don't want but it's harder to defend myself when so many people will fight me on it, either subtly or overtly. Maybe someday I'll advocate for myself, but honestly I feel safer hiding my pronouns and my chosen name from strangers
It's a black mark against society that you're forced to wrestle with such choices. I can only apologize for the unfairness of it and (perhaps more importantly) for my own role in it. I certainly wasn't as accepting in my youth as I now realize basic decency demands. I do somewhat better now. Far from perfect I suspect, despite my best intentions, but better. I both hope and believe that society too will be better tomorrow than today and eventually we will all arrive together at a place of universal decency. Until then I want to say (and this is why I started this comment at all); that there may be reasons why bravery is useful and why we should duly honor those who do boldly put themselves forward; but there is _NEVER ANY SHAME IN PRIORITIZING YOUR OWN SAFETY._ Fixing society's problems isn't on you any more than it's on me. We each carry a small and equal piece of that burden and it doesn't include being forced to defend your own right to exist. There's nothing cowardly about not taking on an unfair fight that's unjustly thrust upon you.
@@hodgeelmwood8677 ah good catch, I haven't heard that term before - that might make a little more sense. It works similarly to the initial comment since there's an intimidation factor there too
Sir Ian is always so eloquent, sharp and highly engaging in his interviews. His charm, inner beauty and handsomeness crosses over in the most impactful way. A thespian and a rare human being. That s what humans are capable of. Let s remind that to ourselves as we swim in an ocean of mediocrity, cliches and shameness and calling it progress with authenticity (!) His Movie Will Be Epic Cant Wait To Enjoy🎉❤
I think the interviewer was very nervous, but he did GREAT. I loved this. Tailoring the questions to the actor AND the project without that regular boring gimmicky "wHaT's YoUr DrEaM rOle" loved this.
I love that we stayed on a central theme and alloqes him to answer due to a very personal experience he has had that resonates with many (being marginalised and not realising the impact of it until it's "over") and didnt have to shove a thousand questions about the movie into a small window of time. Appreciate the time taken to listen and ask appropriate followup questions.
What a profound element of duality (if that's the correct term). Pertaining to his comment about watching his work. Or work he's done rather. No one who IS good ever thinks they're good enough. Then again, that isn't a feeling that's exclusive to those who are... I love listening to Ian talk.
Im echoing damn near everyone here, but this is an amazing interview. Both the questions and answers are amazing. Look, not every story will get told, but i fucking love listening to older people talk about the life theyve lived. The stories they have to tell. Dont wver take your elders for granted.
Really enjoyed that, not your average press junket interview at all. I am in awe of Sir Ian’s talent, intelligence & humour, and yet also feel like I just want to give him a big cuddle.😊
Jamie Tabberer, Bravo! Thank you for the fantastically refreshing and intelligent interview. Could you share a bit about what it was like meeting Sir Ian?
He's also mostly talking about stage directors that he worked with. I saw backstage in theatre myself, and many gay directors were spiteful, much like straight one's too. Stage directors are pure aresoles. 😂
I absolutely adore this man, not only for the films I've seen him acting in, his voice and demeanor, his compassion, but also for his passion for the Art. And he's also very right... I'm a straight woman with rly close gay friends, and they have also said some of the most vicious ppl they have met were gay. So sad indeed when the bullying they have suffered are projected onto others.
What a brilliant interview on both sides. Brilliant questions and brilliant answers. Ian, I love you and admire you even more. Your opinions and insights are inspiring and very sexy!
I'm not a fan of these types of movie interviews, but the interviewer was excellent and Ian was so wonderfully transparent and elegant. Makes me want to watch the movie.
First time I heard of Ian McKellen was in 1981 when we did a lesson on *"Macbeth"* where the teacher showed clips of his 1979 stage version of the titular character opposite Judi Dench's Lady Macbeth. That's the first time I saw both of them young, plus I don't think he "came out" yet. Never thought of him less when he did, and I always rated him as one of our greatest actors.
The same logic applies to other minority groups unfortunately. It is the same set of people who has a foot in the door with the status quo. People who has intimate knowledge about the plight and weaponized that knowledge against other minorities like they have more to prove for their inferiority complex.
Very true. Also I just fairly recently was ghosted by one person, though when I later messaged them, I got a response that seemed to say between the lines that I was too insignificant. That they just simply didn't bother responding to my first message.
@@elainelouve I get on the internet to get away from that garbage thinking. "Too insignificant." What is this? Napoleon? The internet is mostly people playing video games and shooting the breeze and sharing memes. The people you spoke of think they are in tune with some universal efficiency. Watch how efficiently steering clear from a Napoleon they would be if they were transported to the 18th century. They would be out there at the frontiers' waterways fish trapping eels and shads and running you off of those waterways in the name of "significance". No significance there, just another guy looking for easy.
@@fifthbusiness1678 It happens to everyone, to different extents. We would not be at each others' throats trying to standardize social affairs and create safeguards if people can just walk away from this very social divide in 2024. That is actually normal human and wild animal responses to conflicts by the way: we would just walk away from the conflict instead of escalating it until a tamed animal is rendered from the outcome.
I am a heterosexual woman, and as such I can tell you that nearly every woman I know loves gay men. That's a generalisation of course, but I've always found most of them to be broad-minded, friendly and sympathetic, and best of all, they are not predatory, the way some straight men often are. May you live and entertain us for many more years, Sir Ian!
This concept made me think of wicked little letters. They aren’t the same by any means, but that notion of critique and anonymous cruelty online explored through another time. It is interesting to attempt to discuss these human tendencies in a period setting. Though we are perhaps especially afflicted, insulted and isolated by the platforms we interact with now, when art discusses this contemporaneously it has a tendency to become all about the technology facilitating rather than the psychology and motivations of people themselves.
Any gay person who tells you they haven't met a cruel gay person is either being disingenuous or leads an extremely closeted life.
truth is there’s no ‘community’-especially that alphabet soup
People can be cruel regardless of their orientation. Watch out for people who will use this logic to say that a certain group of people are particularly worse than others, you will find it even here in this thread.
@@WalksBehindTheRowsI've had a different experience. In fact I'd say that the most shallow and cruel people I've met were straight rather than gay, and most of my gay friends are good people. I would never use that to make a generalizing claim about straight people because that would just be uneducated.
@@WalksBehindTheRowsi think the bit about internalized homophobia resonates here
I don't believe it comprises our majority, but, yes, many of our fellow gays can be quite dismissive and supercilious. Also, snide and unduly passive-aggressive. Like OP, my circle of friends is overwhelmingly heterosexual. I have found it difficult to cultivate, let alone sustain more than two dear, gay friends.
Damn, he’s actually thinking about the question and killing it with his very smart and honest answers. How refreshing.
It’s nice to see good questions provoking good answers
Serious people will respond earnestly to serious _(and relevant)_ questions.
gay people behave badly....but that's actually your fault for noticing
It really resonated with me when he said he didn't feel angry until afterwards. It's like how people who are abused may not even realise they're being abused until it stops.
I'm 38, spent my whole childhood under Section 28 and the horrific climate it enabled. I never felt angry because I didn't understand how wrong it was, I was just scared. It's not until recently that I've come to understand how profoundly it damaged me, and not just me. My friends, peers, the wider community - so many idiosyncrasies that I just accepted as 'that's how gays are' I now recognise as coping mechanisms of trauma, distress and a stunted childhood. It's difficult to process the anger of injustice when its craven hypocritical architects are never really held to account.
You’ve put this into words very well. I’m 22 and recently came out as transgender. At first I was glad to finally be myself, and then I was mourning all the time I’d wasted being miserable, and then I became retroactively angry at all the people who’d stopped me from being happy as a child and teen. It didn’t upset me at the time because I didn’t know I could have it any other way, that I could be happy and loved as myself. I see the kids in my life being subjected to the same treatment and expectations, and my queer friends will say “It’s unfortunate, but you know we went through the same stuff and we ended up all right.” Are we all right? I came out relatively young and with very little problems, and I still feel messed up. I want to do everything I can to ensure that the next generation has what I would have needed to be a happy child.
Brilliantly put, thank you
So beautifully articulated. I wonder if all the people who were directly responsible for so much damage and pain -- including suicide -- will ever be held accountable. Here in the USA, we still haven't come to terms with the legacy of slavery even 160 years after the era.
The greatest gift that South Africa gave to the human race is the very concept of "Truth and Reconciliation" commissions. How that country came to terms with its legacy without resulting in a bloodbath is one of the remarkable achievements of the 20th century.
the moment you understand what has been forced upon you and done to you, socially or physically, it really is a come to jesus moment. im 31, and when i put it together for myself when i was younger i know i had a bit of mental break. it can be hard to grasp still now.
@jamesconlin5099what?? What made you think that?
Kudos to the interviewer for being able to keep calm and collected not just in front of such a legend but while asking such lovely questions and letting him answer in full.
Super intelligent questions, obviously answered eloquently by Ian.
Agreed! A great pairing of interviewer and interviewee
Refreshing since so many interviews now boil down to "Have you seen this meme?" and "Where do you get your ideas from?"
So nice to see a decent interview instead of something meant to be cut into viral clips of the star eating spicy wings or dancing with a gorilla.
He came to my school once and gave a talk.
He told the room that he was gay and everyone was shocked!
Shocked that he even mentioned it because no one cared. lol
He smiled at that. Really nice guy.
He came to my office once. I worked for Shell in the Strand, London and "they" often used the top for film shoots . They never advertised that the small (4 I think) restaurants were unavailable on this days). Mine was pressing the wrong button in the rear lifts and there he was.
Right, thank you, nobody cares.
One of the best press junket interviews with a movie star I've ever seen. Quiet and studied, which is rare for these things.
This old straight guy loves you Sir Ian...many more years to you.
After he fell off the stage recently, I was worried that McKellen's health would not recover, as is often the case with people his age. Fortunately, he was wearing a fatsuit that absorbed most of the blow. He seems to have bounced back well. He's 85 and still very eloquent.I wish you the best, Ian.
McKellen was also on social media from nearly the beginning. He started a blog in 2000 to document his experiences filming LOTR, when he was 60.
Tres cool!!
"fatsuit"
"bounced back well"
heh heh.
@@talamiorosi also laughed at that, lol
Physically he is amazing. I saw him in Hamlet about three years ago and he was running around the stage, which included an upper section with stairs. He was fitter than most men 20 years younger than himself.
@@tarafarrell46 Healthy living and lifestyle leads to having a lot of energy in your older years. Ian makes and (IIRC) grows his own food from a garden, and during the peak of Covid he was doing online Pilates classes to stay fit. Even after his fall, he recovered after 3 days in hospital. He's just a model human, imo.
Wow, Sir Ian is sharp as a laser at 85. What an incredible man. Great interview!
Those were really thoughtful questions asked in a sober and respectful tone. Reminded me of how few true “journalists” are out there. Great job to the interviewer and thought-provoking answers from Sir Ian!
This was probably the most thought-provoking interview I've seen for a movie. Nice to see intelligent questions and thoughtful, careful answers. Ian is a true gentleman.
🤦
I worked with a director who was gay (deeply closeted) and not only was he hard on the gay actors but he even took advantage of some of them. It's tragic, but it definitely is a real thing that happens all too often
they're not closeted, that's just how they are.
Forgive me, but when you say “deeply” closeted I question the veracity of your comment. After all, that could be said of many stage or film directors since way back when.
That part about being "happily cowed" and being more openly furious after coming out resonated with me a lot, particularly because I realised so early on, felt afraid to tell people, the people built up the confidence to tell reacted in myriad negative ways (two came around nearly a decade later) and I went back into hiding, I'm happier now than I ever was but I'm fucking furious that it took so long, went from hating myself from as early as I could remember to hating the world for making me hate myself, the way it took multiple attempts and that even today there's still people who'd try to force kids and adults who were in that position into that cramped, isolated shadow of a life
I hope you are feeling better these days
This is an unexpectedly strange and beautiful interview. The interviewer was obviously uncomfortable, intimidated perhaps interviewing such an important person. At the same time Sir Ian, was, I think, unusually candid and loose with his descriptions of himself, his work, and the film. I’ve noticed this in people who reach a certain age. There is a stage that the brain gets to I think where either there’s an inability to lie or perhaps it just doesn’t see the need, so it is open, even raw, in the way it expresses things and talks about itself. This tends to happens quite late in life, in a person’s 80s and 90s perhaps. In my experience sadly it’s often one of the last stages where the mind is truly and fully engaged. I suggest we all savour this moment because it might be gone sooner than any of us would like.
I work with senior citizens, and what you wrote is quite true. Some think this late in life "frankness" is due to the deterioration of the brain "filter" we all have in the frontal temporal lobe. I don't agree.
I think people reach a certain age when they value TRUTH over image. They have nothing to "prove" anymore, and they don't care what others think of them. They also are interested in leaving some sort of "legacy" in this world, and what better legacy is there than raw truth and expressing what you truly think?
Splendidly said.
@@markmh835 Getting old is a humbling experience.
@@markmh835 I definitely saw this in my late grandma who fortunately didn’t have dementia unlike my other grandparents. She was always very honest and clear in her thoughts and worries in her late 80s. There’s no need to lie at that age.
I felt this of the interviewer too, but viewed it more from an angle of respect; I would imagine he's incredibly nervous and is probably holding a noteworthy admiration for Ian and just genuinely wanted it to go well. To not offend him in being too brazen or bore him with generic shallow questions, all while still trying to touch delicately on contentious topics for the sake of the insightful responses they can sometimes lead to. It really is a balancing act that's often weighted quite heavily in favour of the star, which must make it unbelievably nerve wrecking!
Imagine you're posing as a straight and Ian McKellen appears and yells you shall not pass
underrated comment 👏
Ian McKellen is such a treasure! We're blessed to have him, still killing it at this age!
Great questions! A breath of fresh air from the usual vacuous questions given to actors....
Ian it's a shame you don't watch yourself more easily, because your portrayal of Gandalf is a presence I look to and aspire to; the gentle strength, the kindness, playfulness and wisdom. Thank you. You basically filled the void left by Father Christmas!
Looking forward to seeing this. How surreal for him to have lived through those difficult times and now playing a part like this. But I have a little caveat. When you're as famous as Mckellen is you are going to be treated with a certain degree of respect that for most people living now, even with the culture having a better attitude, may still be denied. People are less likely to express their bigotry to your face but that doesn't mean the hate isn't still in the room. Very sad and disturbing to hear about gays behaving badly towards other gay people and people in general. I know personally about the anger and bitterness. Seeing populist far right movements rise up again is very concerning. Gay people are always a popular target. Some are not as strong as others and turn to drugs and alcohol. Very tragic. Mckellen is a positive light like Stephen Fry in a still too shaky existence for too many people. The real change must happen in the heart.
That was by far the best promotional interview for a film I have ever seen.
Interviewer did an amazaing job asking meaningful question, and Sir Ian McKellen did a great job explaining his experiences and feelings. love this, its very informative.
An intelligent and thoughtful interview; a rare treat. Thank you.
"I WASNT ANGRY UNTIL I CAME OUT. I WAS HAPPILY A COWARD" !! wisdom !!
'Cowed' not 'a coward'
As schoolgirls we saw Hamlet starring Ian McKellen at the Grand Theatre Wolverhampton when he was a member of the Prospect Theatre Group (or was it called The Actor's company?). I believe it was in 1972. It was a school trip and a matinee. In fact the audience seemed to be mostly schoolchildren. Ian's performance went down a storm. The many encores at the end were by genuine audience demand. After the performance, one of my friends said she thought Ian McKellen was gay. We didn't know what made her think that but maybe he could have come out then though I guess he might have lost roles if he had. My thought in relation to that, when I did think about it, was maybe it because the emotional scenes with other men, where they involved tenderness rather than anger, were more convincing than similar emotional scenes with women, though there's not a lot of tenderness in Hamlet, but Ian McKellen found some. After that I watched plays with Ian McKellen whenever I could, Richard II, Edward II, The Alchemist, Richard III, Macbeth, Coriolanus, Bent, No Man's Land.
Wow, this interview was absolutely stunning, questions that feel like they’re actually part of a very good conversation while actually (not surprisingly from sir Ian) getting very insightful and thought provoking answers, this was amazing!
Thoughtful and intelligent questions. I did feel, however, that some of the questions were quite leading such that Ian tried politely to rephrase them in his responses.
Just because the film has got a gay character doesn't mean it's necessarily a gay rights movie. This is a telling of a story like any other, only that it has a gay character in it.
I agree, a couple of questions were quite cringingly leading ... nevertheless Ian cleverly refused to be led! Bravo, sir!
Agreed. It was a great interview, don't get me wrong, but some questions were just previous ones rephrased, and some seemed to be pushing him to make some sort of a statement.
I thought exactly the same - the interviewer had an agenda and Sir Ian had to put him right several times. Still a very good interview though.
I don't know if it's that clear cut to be fair. It's Ian McKellen who first brings up that topic. In response to a question about a project that combines theatre and a film he talks about his experience as a gay man. It's also part of the film's story and, as evidenced by his answer to that first more unrelated question, something he has a lots of thoughts about. I thought it made sense for the interviewer to continue further into that direction and didn't find it overbearing. Imo at least we can't really call it having 'an agenda' (not smth OP said but someone else in the thread) if it's so clearly relevant to the subjectmatter and the actor you're interviewing.
Now this is a pace I enjoy. Ian McKellen taking his time answering quite thoughtful questions, just all around a great interview.
So much of McKellen’s experience of being “happily cowed” is very relatable…inspirational
What a fantastic interview. Gives me hope that journalism will return back to curiosity instead of controversy
Yes, some times we all have a mean gay man in us, figuratively, not literally.
Great interview. Sir Ian is an icon. Love him
Ian saying he was "happily a coward" kinda hits. I'm closeted in the public about me being trans non binary. My voice is deeper on hrt sure but I still look like a woman, which I don't want but it's harder to defend myself when so many people will fight me on it, either subtly or overtly. Maybe someday I'll advocate for myself, but honestly I feel safer hiding my pronouns and my chosen name from strangers
It's a black mark against society that you're forced to wrestle with such choices. I can only apologize for the unfairness of it and (perhaps more importantly) for my own role in it. I certainly wasn't as accepting in my youth as I now realize basic decency demands. I do somewhat better now. Far from perfect I suspect, despite my best intentions, but better. I both hope and believe that society too will be better tomorrow than today and eventually we will all arrive together at a place of universal decency.
Until then I want to say (and this is why I started this comment at all); that there may be reasons why bravery is useful and why we should duly honor those who do boldly put themselves forward; but there is _NEVER ANY SHAME IN PRIORITIZING YOUR OWN SAFETY._ Fixing society's problems isn't on you any more than it's on me. We each carry a small and equal piece of that burden and it doesn't include being forced to defend your own right to exist. There's nothing cowardly about not taking on an unfair fight that's unjustly thrust upon you.
I'm so sorry that you're in this position. No one should have to apologize for who they are. I wish you well.
I may be mistaken but I believe he actually said "cowed" and the captions got it wrong.
@@hodgeelmwood8677 ah good catch, I haven't heard that term before - that might make a little more sense. It works similarly to the initial comment since there's an intimidation factor there too
Stop with the foolishness, and get right with God.
No one is interested in indulging your delusions.
He's a legend ❤🎉
Sir Ian is always so eloquent, sharp and highly engaging in his interviews. His charm, inner beauty and handsomeness crosses over in the most impactful way.
A thespian and a rare human being.
That s what humans are capable of.
Let s remind that to ourselves as we swim in an ocean of mediocrity, cliches and shameness and calling it progress with authenticity (!)
His Movie Will Be Epic Cant Wait To Enjoy🎉❤
I think the interviewer was very nervous, but he did GREAT. I loved this. Tailoring the questions to the actor AND the project without that regular boring gimmicky "wHaT's YoUr DrEaM rOle" loved this.
Could listen to him talk all day
Interview. Intelligent and thoughtful questions and answers. And what a stellar cast. Can’t wait to see it
This is a fabulous interview. Such amazing questions and amazing answers. Thank you for not asking the same boring stuff everyone does.
I love that we stayed on a central theme and alloqes him to answer due to a very personal experience he has had that resonates with many (being marginalised and not realising the impact of it until it's "over") and didnt have to shove a thousand questions about the movie into a small window of time. Appreciate the time taken to listen and ask appropriate followup questions.
I wanna have a drink with Ian, just sit & listen to a genius & his humble outlook
"I don't want to bump into any negativity, which is going to take up my time and upset me. And I don't want to give it any credence." Beautiful.
What a fantastic interview. Great questions, great answers!
What a profound element of duality (if that's the correct term). Pertaining to his comment about watching his work. Or work he's done rather. No one who IS good ever thinks they're good enough. Then again, that isn't a feeling that's exclusive to those who are...
I love listening to Ian talk.
Amazing interview. Questions about real things with real, genuine answers. Not just superficial fluff. Thank you.
Love to see such a thoughtful and intelligent man voice his ideas and opinions.
My God, what is this interview?! Superb job mister interviewer. And, of course, our beloved Sir Ian.
There are currently 64 countries with anti-gay laws, half of those being in Africa. Prejudice and intolerance are hard walls to break down.
Not too deep for those that traveled that path as well..TY Sir Ian
Ian, you are a lion in your community. Yes, you are so right. Gd bless you. Thanks youfor all th rest of us. God blesss you!
Thanks for such insightful questions. It's clear Sir Ian felt compelled to dig deep in his responses.
What a well reflected man. I am in tears about the honesty of his approach. Thanks Ian, for being so open about your life.
Im echoing damn near everyone here, but this is an amazing interview. Both the questions and answers are amazing. Look, not every story will get told, but i fucking love listening to older people talk about the life theyve lived. The stories they have to tell. Dont wver take your elders for granted.
Well said.👏
Such a talent. Ian is a master of his craft and deserves his flowers while we still can give them to him
I think he said he was 'cowed' rather than 'a coward', I think that's an important distinction there
Thank you. I heard it just as you said, and I was hoping someone would point it out.
I'm straight. What a treasure Sir Ian is for what he voices here and for his acting.
Lol. Why did you feel it necessary to declare your sexuality?
@@fifthbusiness1678 I'm terrified someone might think I'm gay. LOL.
Beautiful interview, great questions and great answers!
Love Sir Ian he truly is an icon of acting
Really enjoyed that, not your average press junket interview at all. I am in awe of Sir Ian’s talent, intelligence & humour, and yet also feel like I just want to give him a big cuddle.😊
Jamie Tabberer, Bravo!
Thank you for the fantastically refreshing and intelligent interview. Could you share a bit about what it was like meeting Sir Ian?
I simply ADORE Ian. His insights are always so interesting. Haven’t seen a dull interview of him.
Excellent interview!
Now why has Ian Mckellen not been on Drag Race he would love it! Hilarious if he was on an acting challenge he understands camp for sure
Drag Race UK would be perfect for him
Bryan Singer??
Totally.
@MarcosIsABaritone they were quite close at one point. But that was my first thought too.
He's also mostly talking about stage directors that he worked with. I saw backstage in theatre myself, and many gay directors were spiteful, much like straight one's too. Stage directors are pure aresoles. 😂
Singer was abusive on set and likes lil boys, so no way Ian's referring to anyone else
@@RandomizationShow I don't think he is, because he segues into theatre directors, so he obviously has a non-film director on his mind.
Refreshing to see such a thoughtful, and intelligent interview.
Well, that was 13 minutes well spent. Thoughtful, sensitive questions and informative, meaningful answers.
Actually makes me want to see the film.
I absolutely adore this man, not only for the films I've seen him acting in, his voice and demeanor, his compassion, but also for his passion for the Art.
And he's also very right... I'm a straight woman with rly close gay friends, and they have also said some of the most vicious ppl they have met were gay. So sad indeed when the bullying they have suffered are projected onto others.
What a brilliant interview on both sides. Brilliant questions and brilliant answers. Ian, I love you and admire you even more. Your opinions and insights are inspiring and very sexy!
Also, some people are just cruel and happen to also be gay.
I'm not a fan of these types of movie interviews, but the interviewer was excellent and Ian was so wonderfully transparent and elegant. Makes me want to watch the movie.
Beautiful interview, expertly done, full of intelligence, wisdom and charisma. Cheers!
For such an old man he is quite beautiful.
you could have worded that better.....!
I think the word is "elegant."
@@zyxw2000 Why are you putting words in his mouth?
@@fifthbusiness1678 Because Sir Ian IS elegant.
I went from not knowing anything about the film to wanting to watch it. Well done
First time I heard of Ian McKellen was in 1981 when we did a lesson on *"Macbeth"* where the teacher showed clips of his 1979 stage version of the titular character opposite Judi Dench's Lady Macbeth. That's the first time I saw both of them young, plus I don't think he "came out" yet. Never thought of him less when he did, and I always rated him as one of our greatest actors.
What an exceptional interview! Wonderfully insightful questions along with genuinely thoughtful answers ✨10/10✨
I was able to see him live at the Mark Taper Forum in Ibsen's The Doll House in 1998. Excellent Performance. ❤
3:00 Sometimes i forget how violent and cruel the treatment towards gay people back then
He's talking about Bryan Singer, notably a hot mess of a director 😂
I hadn't heard of this film upcoming but I loved this interview and will definitely give it a watch! Thoughtful questions and answers both.
Love Ian. And absolutely loved him in Gods and Monsters. Gonna need to watch this one.
Wow! What an amazing, respectful and courageous interview.
Patrick Marber is such a gifted writer, as well as actor, director and comedian. Look forward to seeing this!
A great conversation !
beautiful in questions and also the answers. thank you.
Best film interview ever. Very nicely done.
He looks so cheeky in the thumbnail.
one of the few persons alive i would do anything to have dinner with...
Best interview with Ian I've ever seen
Remarkably good interview on both sides .
An interesting and thought provoking interview. Very well done
Sir Ian is soooooo intelligent. Nice pairing with fresh questioning.
Refreshing interview. Thanks.
The same logic applies to other minority groups unfortunately.
It is the same set of people who has a foot in the door with the status quo. People who has intimate knowledge about the plight and weaponized that knowledge against other minorities like they have more to prove for their inferiority complex.
It's because they want power. Whether they are consciously aware of this or not.
Very true. Also I just fairly recently was ghosted by one person, though when I later messaged them, I got a response that seemed to say between the lines that I was too insignificant. That they just simply didn't bother responding to my first message.
@@elainelouve I get on the internet to get away from that garbage thinking.
"Too insignificant." What is this? Napoleon?
The internet is mostly people playing video games and shooting the breeze and sharing memes.
The people you spoke of think they are in tune with some universal efficiency. Watch how efficiently steering clear from a Napoleon they would be if they were transported to the 18th century.
They would be out there at the frontiers' waterways fish trapping eels and shads and running you off of those waterways in the name of "significance".
No significance there, just another guy looking for easy.
Not just minority groups, but everyone!
@@fifthbusiness1678 It happens to everyone, to different extents.
We would not be at each others' throats trying to standardize social affairs and create safeguards if people can just walk away from this very social divide in 2024.
That is actually normal human and wild animal responses to conflicts by the way: we would just walk away from the conflict instead of escalating it until a tamed animal is rendered from the outcome.
I am a heterosexual woman, and as such I can tell you that nearly every woman I know loves gay men. That's a generalisation of course, but I've always found most of them to be broad-minded, friendly and sympathetic, and best of all, they are not predatory, the way some straight men often are. May you live and entertain us for many more years, Sir Ian!
They are not predatory... Towards women. Lot of gay guys can be just as predatory as straight men.
@@Proxinem with what purpose?
This is an excellent interview!
Brilliant interview! Superb questions
This concept made me think of wicked little letters. They aren’t the same by any means, but that notion of critique and anonymous cruelty online explored through another time. It is interesting to attempt to discuss these human tendencies in a period setting. Though we are perhaps especially afflicted, insulted and isolated by the platforms we interact with now, when art discusses this contemporaneously it has a tendency to become all about the technology facilitating rather than the psychology and motivations of people themselves.
BRILLIANT interview. Finally one worth watching. Bravo
2:43 I'd've said the "extremely distinguished director" he was talking about was John Dexter
Thoughtful replies to a thoughtful interviewer's questions. Good stuff.