Ian McKellen celebrates the positive impact of coming out as gay 35 years ago, stating that his life has improved as a result.
In an interview with Variety, the renowned actor from “The Lord of the Rings” reflects on one of the defining moments in his life. McKellen publicly came out as gay during a 1988 radio broadcast as a form of protest against proposed laws in the UK that aimed to restrict the “promotion of homosexuality” by local officials.
“Almost overnight, everything in my life changed for the better – my relationships improved, and my outlook on acting transformed,” McKellen shared.
Photo by Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Images
The star of the upcoming thriller “The Critic” has previously discussed his decision to come out, revealing on social media in 2018 that “life at last begins to make sense” after making that choice.
McKellen also highlights the positive impact it had on his acting abilities.
“The type of acting I excelled in involved deception – adopting different voices and mannerisms. It was about hiding from the world,” McKellen explained.
“I was no longer in a position where I had to explain the character to the audience while running alongside them. I simply became the character.”
He also noticed a change in his on-stage performances, becoming more open, and expressing uncertainty about transitioning to film acting if he hadn’t come out.
“People who are not gay simply cannot understand the damage caused by lying about your identity and feeling ashamed of oneself,” McKellen emphasized.
“I grew up in a time when it was illegal for me to have a same-sex relationship. That wasn’t too long ago.”
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