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 More Quotes by Ian Mckellen More Quotes From Ian Mckellen I love the Broadway audiences, who relish live drama and don't hesitate to display their enthusiasm. Ian Mckellen broadway enthusiasm drama A few years ago, a friend said to me: "You do realize, Ian, when X-Men and Lord of the Rings come out, your life will totally change?" I didn't know what he was talking about, but he was right. My life has totally changed - but in a good way. Unbeknownst to me, it's given me a lot more confidence. Ian Mckellen talking men years That's the imagination that happens in the theater. That imagination is translated in film by the film magicians and all the technology. Ian Mckellen film technology imagination I don't make much distinction between being a stand-up comic and acting Shakespeare - in fact, unless you're a good comedian, you're never going to be able to play Hamlet properly. Ian Mckellen comedian acting play You mustn't upstage the bride. Ian Mckellen bride you I certainly don't disparage someone whose attitude towards their work is utterly different from mine - that's up to them. Ian Mckellen someone different work attitude Bill Gallagher's new version of 'The Prisoner' is an enthralling commentary on modern culture. It is witty, intelligent and disturbing. I am very excited to be involved. Ian Mckellen i-am new intelligent culture I have got prostate cancer, and I have to keep monitoring that. It's no problem, it's under control and I'm very cool about it, but other people are dying from it. Ian Mckellen control cool problem people I'm the sort of person who doesn't write in ink. I only write in pencil, so it can be rubbed out. Ian Mckellen pencil person only who I am lucky, I don't have aches and pains. I do Pilates regularly, which is a series of stretching exercises, and I recommend it to anyone of my age because the temptation is not to exercise when you get older. Well, you should. Ian Mckellen i-am you lucky age When I went to lobby Nelson Mandela while the post-apartheid constitution was being drafted, I asked him to endorse making it illegal to discriminate on grounds of sexuality. I'd been warned that he might giggle if I mentioned homosexuality. Ian Mckellen him being sexuality constitution I'm brilliant at cooking my stepmother's scrambled egg recipe. The secret is to put eggs, butter, milk, and seasoning together in the saucepan, and to keep stirring with a wooden spoon under a low heat until the preferred consistency is reached. Ian Mckellen egg consistency cooking together When you grumble about a taxi being dirty, people your own age will absolutely agree with you, whereas younger people say, 'You should be so lucky to have a taxi - I walk to work!' So I have lots of young friends, who fortunately don't treat me as a guru, a person that knows all the answers. Ian Mckellen walk me age work I'm fortunate to be famous for two rather imposing characters like Magneto and Gandalf. Ian Mckellen famous like fortunate two I came rather late to film. I've done an awful lot of theater before - before I discovered the camera, you know, seeing everything, requiring much less acting and - and much less presentation, much less projecting, more just being. Ian Mckellen camera know you late There are people who've enjoyed my work in the theater, and they let me know that it was special for them. I'm not going to say, 'Well, you should have seen me as Gandalf!' Ian Mckellen me you work people I learned that coming out was crucial to self-esteem. Ian Mckellen self-esteem learned coming out Gandalf is ever-present in my life. I like it. Ian Mckellen my-life like life It's nice for me to be in touch with a younger generation. Ian Mckellen touch generation me nice I have lots of fans, they are mostly under the age of 12, boys and girls. Ian Mckellen boys-and-girls lots fans age