Ian Mckellen: I learned that coming out was crucial to self-esteem.

Try and understand what part you have to play in the world in which you live. There's more to life than you know and it's all happening out there. Discover what part you can play and then go for it.

Ian Mckellen

play trying world

I often thought my gravestone would say, 'Here lies Gandalf. He came out,'

Ian Mckellen

gravestone lying

Acting is a very personal process. It has to do with expressing your own personality, and discovering the character you're playing through your own experience - so we're all different.

Ian Mckellen

acting personality character

I'm dead against the idea that you should try to "cure" people of being gay.

Ian Mckellen

gay people ideas

To know you are in the company with people who love and care for each other, as well as for whatever they are working on, is almost essential.

Ian Mckellen

essentials care people

I’ve often thought the Bible should have a disclaimer in the front saying this is fiction.

Ian Mckellen

disclaimers should-have fiction

I have been reluctant to lobby on other issues I most care about - nuclear weapons (against), religion (atheist), capital punishment (anti), AIDS (fund-raiser) because I don't want to be forever spouting, diluting the impact of addressing my most urgent concern - legal and social equality for gay people worldwide.

Ian Mckellen

impact gay atheist

I tend to discourage people from calling me 'Sir Ian,' because I don't like being separated out from the rest of the population. Of course, it can be useful if you're writing an official letter, like trying to get a visa or something passed through Parliament. They're impressed by these things.

Ian Mckellen

writing trying people

I've had enough of being a gay icon! I've had enough of all this hard work, because, since I came out, I keep getting all these parts, and my career's taken off. I want a quiet life. I'm going back into the closet. But I can't get back into the closet, because it's absolutely jam-packed full of other actors.

Ian Mckellen

gay hard-work taken

If I was on a march at the moment I would be saying to everyone: Be honest with each other. Admit there are limitless possibilities in relationships, and love as many people as you can in whatever way you want, and get rid of your inhibitions, and we'll all be happy.

Ian Mckellen

and-love would-be people

You can always pick out stage actors at the Oscars: they know how to walk.

Ian Mckellen

oscars stage-actors walks

I've played an awful lot of people that other people would call villains, but that isn't a very helpful attitude to have if you're about to play them. They are just people, and they may do dreadful things and say dreadful things, but your job as an actor is to know why they do them or say them.

Ian Mckellen

play attitude jobs

I think the point to be understood is that we're all different. I've never been a fan of theories of acting. I didn't go to drama school, so I was never put through a training that was limited by someone saying, 'This is the way you should act.'

Ian Mckellen

drama school thinking

I'm not experienced enough, or certain enough of my acting on the screen to say to a director, "You are wrong, I am right. I will only do it this way." I could never feel that, I wish I could be absolutely certain. But on the stage, it's different. I know where I am on the stage.

Ian Mckellen

acting wish directors

We are very lucky to be men because women have a terrible time getting older parts. It's much more difficult.

Ian Mckellen

getting-older lucky men

Personally, coming out was one of the most important things I've ever done, lifting from my shoulders the millstone of lies that I hadn't even realized I was carrying.

Ian Mckellen

important done lying

When you were on stage, you could be absolutely open about your emotions and indulge them and express yourself in a way that - in real life - I wasn't doing.

Ian Mckellen

acting real way

I can't take on all the worries of the world, you know. I can only talk about being gay and being an actor. I'll have to leave those other battles to somebody else.

Ian Mckellen

gay battle worry

No one needs to feel sorry for me or anyone else who has fallen victim to success.

Ian Mckellen

victim sorry needs

Splendid architecture, the love of your life, an old friend... they can all go drifting by unseen if youre not careful.

Ian Mckellen

unseen architecture old-friends