Ian McKellen reveals the “worst film experience” of his 54-year film career
Ian McKellen described it as the “worst film experience” he has ever had in his decades-long acting career.
Perhaps best known for his iconic role as the wizard Gandalf in The Lord of the rings The 84-year-old British actor has made more than 100 TV and film appearances in his more than 60 years of acting.
However, it was his starring role in Michael Mann’s 1983 war horror film The fortress that in his opinion it was his “worst film experience”.
“Michael Mann said to me: ‘You’re playing this Romanian.’ So I went to Romania to explore and learned to speak with a Romanian accent,” McKellen recalled in a new interview with diversity.
“Then on the first day of filming, Michael told me he wanted me to speak with a Chicago accent. Well, I couldn’t and it just got worse from there.”
McKellen starred alongside Scott Glenn (The silence of the Lambs) and Gabriel Byrne in The fortresswhich told the story of Nazi troops who awakened an evil force when they set up camp in Romania during World War II.
The actor will next be seen in Anand Tucker’s historical thriller The criticwhich will have its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
Sir Ian McKellen among special honorees at Pantomime Awards 2023 (PA)
(PA archive)
Gemma Arterton, Ben Barnes, Colin Firth, Alfred Enoch, Alfred Enoch and Mark Strong also appear.
“The critic is a story about ambition, blackmail and desire with a colorful anti-hero at his dark heart. A crime thriller wrapped in a Faustian pact that gets ever tighter,” according to IMDb.
He is also starting an Off West End limited series Frank and Percy on Friday (September 8) at London’s Other Palace Theater and runs until December 3.
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McKellen stars alongside Roger Allam in the comedy production about two older men who form an unlikely friendship while sitting on a park bench.
Asked by diversity At the idea of retiring, McKellen scoffed: “Retire for what?
“I have never been unemployed, but I am aware that at any moment something could happen to me that could prevent me from ever working again,” he said.
“But as long as the knees hold out and the memory stays intact, why shouldn’t I carry on? I really feel like I’m pretty good at this acting thing now.”