IamA Sir Ian McKellen AMA!

Welcome to reddit! http://i.imgur.com/t4FyZlg.png

My question is: How did you first meet Patrick Stewart, and what did you think of him?

Very good. They all look very surprised. Thank you. Lovely.

I met Patrick in Stratford-upon-Avon when we were both working in the theatre there doing Shakespeare. In about 1976.

There is a rumor that Christopher Lee always wanted to play Gandalf, but you got it instead. Is there anything that Christopher Lee did that you always wanted?

It's not a rumor, it's true. He told me at our first meeting that he always thought he would be good casting as Gandalf. It turns out he was better casting as Saruman. Of all the parts he played, the one I hankered after was Sherlock Holmes. Im sorry he doesn't get to see Mr. Holmes, the movie, I think he would have enjoyed it.

Would you rather fight 100 Hobbit-sized Balrogs, or 1 Balrog-sized Hobbit?

I would never fight a Hobbit, no matter his size. So I would have to go with the first. 100 Hobbit-sized Balrogs is easy. Easy.

How has your relationship with Sir Patrick Stewart impacted your career, and your life?

Patrick and I have known each other since we in the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 70s. Im the guy who advised him not to do Star Trek. We've recently become friends through X-Men and we did two plays together. and I married him to his lady Sunny. So all and all we've become very close to each other.

If you could raise any animal to be your sidekick for life, what would it be and why?

A dog, preferably a boxer. Preferably a bitch. Preferably one who would outlive me.

Hi Sir Ian! What was your favorite memory from on set The Lord of The Rings movies?

Many. Many. Many. The scenery that was built in the studio was sensational. And I think my favorite set, that I didn't act in, was the golden Liar, where the dragon was hiding. Hundreds of thousands of golden coins, specially made.

And if you don't tell anyone, I can tell you that I have some of those coins. Along with the font door key to Bag End, which i know Peter Jackson is looking for, but will never find.

Have you talked to Michael Fassbender (your younger Magneto self) in regards to him playing MacBeth? I imagine a famous Shakespearean actor like yourself could have offered support and maybe influenced his performance.

No I have not talked to Michael about McBeth, and don't expect to. He's giving his own performance and I think it might be confusing.

You don't want to be bothered with what someone else did. You want to do your own performance.

Hi Ian! Are you a forgetful man?

Well, yes. I forget peoples birthdays. I forget peoples names. I sometimes forget what I did yesterday. And at 76 theres an awful lot of forgetfulness that I can't do anything about. But overall, forgetfulness is because you're lazy.

Do you do the quiz at your pub in Limehouse on Tuesdays?

No, because quiz night is on Mondays. I'm usually there. My team did win once, no thanks to me.

Does being knighted have any perks?

Not really. There's no money involved. You get a medal. And a lot of respect I suppose. The one slight problem is that sometimes the tittle gets in the way. Particularly backstage or on set when I much prefer not to have it used.

Sir Ian, what is your go to home cooked meal?

I'll give you the recipe.

Slice potatoes thinly. Slice onions thinly. Grade some strong cheddar cheese. You slice some small tomatoes. And you layer those ingredients. And put them in a medium oven for one hour. And to make sure it's delicious as it always is, pour a little single cream over the potatoes, which should be the top layer.

Very comforting, quite nutritious, easy to make. Astound your friends.

Sir Ian McKellen. It's a immense honour to have you here with us.

I know it's probably a common question, but how do you feel about playing Sherlock Holmes, a character so famous and beloved by many generations? And how do you compare it with more modern takes on Sherlock Holmes, like the ones made by Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller?

And if i may, i would like to say that you made my favorite character from a book - Gandalf - become my favorite character of any media, of all times. You're the best!

Thanks for everything and best regards from Brazil!

The simple unique idea of Mr. Holmes is that he is not a fictional character. Was a real person. We meet him first at the end of his life, when he is looking back at the mystery that sent him into retirement.

So my Holmes is different form all the rest in the the is so old. He is a real man. And the Holmes everyone thinks they know through the Dr. Watson Version is incorrect. So it's a mystery to learn what mr. Homes was rally like. I loved playing the part.

Is there a character that you'd like to play before you retire from acting?

Perhaps Antonio, in The Merchant of Venice, because he is one of the very few obviously gay characters in Shakespeare.

Mr. McKellen, how do you feel about the recent groundswell of acceptance in the United States for the LGBT community, especially as one who has seen it change over the years?

Social change usually happens slowly. The Supreme Court decision comes at the end of the process of argument, and confirms the change that has already happened. I'm just sorry that there are still people in the USA that are not yet ready to accept that the law should treat everybody the same. But they too will change. :)

Hi Ian,

Have you ever had bad luck when saying the title of the Scottish Play?

No. Macbeth! [shout it loudly] was a lucky play for me. As I was in a wonderful production with amazing cast. But I am careful not to mention the play, or quote it, in the dressing room as other actors can get nervous.

Sir Ian, with your expansive filmography, is there any place in the world that you would still like to visit that you haven't already?

I would like to visit South America. Particularly Easter Island. I would like to explore the Far East. And I would like to go to Yellowstone Park.

Good day, Sir.

• You have been known to disapprove of modern cinema's use of CGI, at least where it interferes with the actors' abilities to interact with each other and develop chemistry. If you were asked to create a set of rules regarding what actors could request during filming to better their performance — the physical presence of other actors, real sets and makeup instead of green screens and motion capture, etc. — what would you put in?

• It's been oft-reported that when you check into a hotel, you rip out the page of the bible where Leviticus 18:22 is printed. As you are an atheist, do you feel as though you can be offended by the declarations of an entity whom you believe to be fictional? (As Dan Savage remarked, "[S]omeone telling me that God hates me is about as hurtful as someone telling that the Blue Fairy thinks I look fat in these jeans.") And how would you defend your actions as a legitimate form of protest rather than criminal vandalism?

(Edit: Re: The second set of questions — I only asked because I was curious. I did not intend for the tone to come off as accusatory.)

Good question. I would request that wherever possible, the actors should be in the same space and able to look at each other. The fact is, I was never allowed to look Elijah Wood in the eyes. Nor Martin Freeman. In order to create the illusion of different heights. Not easy.

What is your favorite pizza topping?

I am vegetarian so, lots of cheese and lots of tomato, and lots of basil. And only thin crust.

Which of the awards you've ears means the most to you or the work you've done?

I think the first award I ever got which was presented by our Equity, the UK Actors Union, because it was given by my peers. That was in 1964.

Which role did you have the most difficulty getting into?

There's usually for me a moment of despair for every part I play, worrying that I will ever convince myself that I inhabit the character. The worst case of that was "Wild Honey", based on Anton Chekov's first play. I tried to leave the production at the dress rehearsal. It's one of the biggest successes I ever had at the National Theatre in London. So, what do I know?

Good day Sir Ian!

I was giddier for this AMA than my own birthday today. I was wondering if you have any favourite Sherlock Holmes stories that you perhaps read in preparation of the role. Did you watch the performance of any of the other Sherlock-actors as inspiration?

Happy Birthday! I did read one of the Sherlock Holmes books and I've forgotten the title. But it was alarming that for half the novel the action took place, not in Victorian London, but in the United States of America. And that Sherlock Holmes was not to be seen or heard. Things aren't always as we remember them.

Thank you for doing this AMA, Sir Ian.  As I've said before, I am a big fan.

When Return of the King came out, I lived in Dallas, TX, a sprawling metroplex with many movie theaters.  From the weekend of it's release through it's last weekend in the dollar theater, I saw Return of the King in a movie theater every Friday night. That's every Friday from December to May.  What a ride!

Anyway, after Fellowship, I recall Elijah Wood on the daily Show I think talking about matching tattoos of the runic "9" that you fellows had gotten during filming.  That story touched me as it truly demonstrated the bond you guys had created while filming.

Do you fellas all keep in touch? Do you ever have reunions of the Fellowship despite your busy schedules?

We planned to meet each year once filming was complete. But so far we never have - unless of course, the other 8 are meeting without letting me know... :)

The one I see most of, is Orlando Bloom. When we were both acting on Broadway we had adjacent apartments in New York City.

Hello Sir! Thank you for taking the time to do this! My question is, what advice do you have for LGBT Millennials?

EDIT: spelling

My advice to you is to keep your jeans dry. And for the rest, be out and be honest and change the world.

Sir Ian, I adore you. I cannot wait to see "Mr. Holmes." My question for you is in regards to your role on "Vicious" where your character reminds me of Peter Wyngarde, an actor who -- in the early 70s -- suffered public ridicule when it was discovered he was homosexual. Are you acquainted with him? Also, how did Freddy fare during those years when being gay in the UK was a criminal offense?

I used to live at the end of a terrace of old houses in London. And Peter lived at the other end, and indeed still does - though we are not in touch. Gay actors of his generation were subject to shameful treatment.

A characteristic I like most about Freddy and his partner Stuart is their longevity. They are survivors who deserve all the happiness they can get in their later years. Perhaps they liked being vicious to each other because the world has been vicious to them.

Hi there Sir Ian, wonderful that you are here on Reddit. I read recently that you said you were tying to get better at your job (June 2015, The Telegraph). How can you strive to do that? You've so many awards and I personally find your acting flawless, are you just never happy with what you create? Or do you continually strive to do better?

Well I wish I could act in front of the camera as say, Meryl Streep or Dustin Hoffman. Each part will have its challenges and I like that because if you're trying to solve a problem you're fully engaged.

I think in Mr. Holmes I do every so often a sort of acting I admire in others. But I've never met an actor who thought he was any good, really. But we are perhaps the last people to judge our own performances.