When the Queen of England was “bloody rude” to Lord of the Rings star Ian McKellan
As a devoted fan and follower of Sir Ian McKellan’s remarkable journey through the world of acting, I find myself utterly captivated by his unique blend of charm, wit, and unapologetic candor. His anecdotes about meeting royalty are as intriguing as they are hilarious, offering a glimpse into the extraordinary life of one of our most treasured performers.
Ian McKellen, a well-known actor adored by many, is renowned for his roles as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and Magneto in X-Men. Here at Winter Is Coming, we’re big fantasy fans, making Sir Ian almost a celebrity among us. However, it seems he has met royalty beyond our fictional realms too; McKellen was knighted in 1991 and made part of the Order of Companions of Honour by Queen Elizabeth II in 2008. Yet, from his accounts, their encounter didn’t leave a particularly positive impression on him.
In a recent theatre performance of “Player Kings” in London, the 85-year-old McKellan had a severe fall. He expressed his concern that it could have been his last moment when he tumbled off the stage. However, it seems like he’s recovering well. In an interview with The Times of London, he reminisced about this incident and also shared some memories from the time he met Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in 2022.
On the rare instances that I encountered her, she was rather impolite, as Sir McKellan shared. During my 2008 award ceremony for acting (the Companion of Honour), she commented, “You’ve been doing this for an awfully long time.” I replied, “Well, not as long as you.” Her response was a royal smile, but then she followed with, “Does anyone still actually go to the theatre?” Such a remark is uncalled for, especially during an award ceremony for acting. It essentially meant, “Do people even care about you because I don’t. Now move along!
McKellan emphasized that for Michael Odell of The Times to truly understand the Queen’s rude behavior, it would be beneficial if he could personally feel the kind of handshake the Queen extended to McKellan.
McKellan declared, “I’ll be the queen,” as he extended his hand. However, when Odell reached out to greet him, McKellan pushed him back firmly, stating, “That was my way of saying ‘Move on! Leave!’
As a devoted admirer, I must say that McKellan is well-aware of the challenges faced by the British royals, particularly the mental strain they endure due to unrelenting public scrutiny. Putting myself in their shoes, it’s almost as if they’re imprisoned. They can’t live ordinary lives, and even simple interactions require maintaining a friendly facade. Can one even fathom the difficulty of being courteous to every person they meet?
Hats off to anyone who manages to stay sane in that world. Like the [late] Duke of Edinburgh managed to do, although even he was deeply, deeply eccentric and I suspect deeply unhappy. Same with the present king. He sort of survives, but he is clearly damaged. As for Harry, he’s probably not bright enough or doesn’t have the right friends to really help himself. Mind you, he had the pick of all the pretty women in the world. I hope he’s got the right one.
As a dedicated gamer, I’ve always been captivated by McKellan’s performances, whether on stage or screen. It seems there’s no hard feelings, but his memory for past events is as impressive as Gandalf’s in Middle Earth. Here’s to hoping that any future royal interactions run more smoothly than the last one.
It seems that McKellan is excited to return to acting, and with two upcoming “Lord of the Rings” films, he might have the opportunity to do so. He expressed his desire by saying, “I’d love to be out there again.
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2024-10-01 16:41