Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
#0Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 4:33pm
McKellen urges gay actors to come out
Wednesday, August 10 2005, 18:53 BST -- by Neil Wilkes
Sir Ian McKellen has urged gay actors to come out of the closet in order to improve their careers.
The Lord of the Rings star, who is openly gay, believes that those who pretend to be straight are actually damaging their chances of success.
"By the time I came out, I was in my late 40s and I was fed up with worrying about what other people thought, and confident enough in my career to suspect that it wasn't going to make any difference at all. I was absolutely wrong," WENN quote the 66-year-old as saying.
"I became a better actor, and my film career took off in a way that I couldn't have expected. You can't lie about something so central to yourself without harming yourself.
"Acting in my case is no longer about disguise - it's about telling the truth, and my truth is that I'm gay. I'm very happy for people to know that, and then I can get on with telling the truth about the character that I'm playing.
"That's why I can say to other actors: if you really want to be a good actor and a successful one, and you're gay, let everybody know about it."
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds23345.html
#2re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 4:37pmGo Ian!
popcultureboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/23/03
#3re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 4:37pmGo Ian indeed. But the words dead, horse and flogging spring to mind.
#4re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 4:39pmgreat sentiment, but i doubt it would work for the heath ledger's, jake gyllenhall's and hayden christensen's of the world that play romantic leads in films.
PED
robbiej
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#5re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 4:39pm
Really, pop?
Cause the words 'vitamins' and 'exercise' are what come to my mind!
popcultureboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/23/03
#6re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 4:41pm
Tee hee robbie 
.
#7re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 4:41pmoh yeah, what does this have to do with george bush?
PED
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#8re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 4:44pm
I just had a vision of Sir Ian in a Glinda costume singing:
"Come out, come out, wherever you are...
And meet the young lady who fell from a star..."
#9re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 4:44pm
Ok. Fine.
I'm and actor. And, I'm GAY GAY GAY!
#10re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 4:45pmeven your dog knows your gay.
PED
popcultureboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/23/03
#11re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 4:47pmJerby, you're gay? Well this is a turn up for the books.
#12re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 4:47pmI haven't seen Rosie's acting improve any, but perhaps that's just me.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#13re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 4:47pmTHAT"S what I'm talking about!
#14re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 5:01pmrobbiej - Correction: Vitamins and excerise are apparently the cure for being gay. Look how well it works.
#15re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 5:04pmRath--if Rosie's good as Golde, I want you to eat your hat.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#16re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 5:05pmRathnait, how long have you had such a problem with women? Especially other lesbians? I mean, not including a select few with cobwebs where their ovaries used to be? It's a theme that comes up again and again with you. I know there were some mommy problems in your formative years and you're on the psychotropics, but please, give the lesbian performers a break from what reads like misogyny to this feminist.
#17re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 5:07pm
I will, happily, PJ.
Namo, overreact much?
#19re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 5:15pmI don't think it's possible for Ian McKellen to get any more fantastic. I love this man! And frankly, I don't care if Heath Ledger does come out and say he's gay. A hot man is still a hot man. And I will still swoon over him. Anthony Rapp has been out since '92 and men and women still freakin adore him. (Granted, he does not often play the the straight heartthrob.) The only people who will really care are the hideous right-wing conservative pricks and the teenage girls.
MasterLcZ
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/12/03
#20re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 5:16pmDoes anyone here have Kevin Spacey's Email?
Auggie27
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/03
#21re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 5:20pm
So acting chops are tested and improve. How postively Uta Hagen technique.
How about a remake of DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES with Jodie Foster and Kevin Spacey.
A remake of AMERICAN GIGOLO with Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis? Yikes, wait--they already made a movie.
Borstalboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/9/04
#22re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 5:24pmHeath Ledger is gay? When the hell did that happen?
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#24re: Ian McKellen Urges Gay Actors to Come Out
Posted: 8/10/05 at 5:30pmI always thought Anne Heche's acting was better during the Ellen years. Now I know why.
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