Sir Ian’s new epic quest: to trace his family tree
The actor talks about his artist and activist ancestors and why he never wanted children SIR IAN MCKELLEN’S NEXT BIG APPEARANCE IS AS HIMSELF, TRACING HIS ROOTS IN BBC ONE’S WHO DO YOU THINK
When the young Ian M cK ellen showed an interest in becoming a performer, his mother, Margery, was more supportive than most parents might be of such an unpredictable profession.
“Apparently she said, ‘If Ian decides to be an actor, it’s a good job, because it brings pleasure to people’,” says the star, now 77.
Mrs McKellen died when her son was just 12, but she would undoubtedly have been proud of his work, with acclaimed performances in everything from Shakespearian tragedies to Hollywood blockbusters.
“You find a lot of actors will say that, at heart, what they’re doing is trying to impress their parents. And I have on occasion gone, ‘I wonder what my parents would think seeing me in this play?’” admits McKellen, whose father, Denis, a civil engineer, died when the actor was 24.
“Almost always I would have to say they would’ve approved; but like all good parents, before everything else, theywouldwantmetobehappy. And I am.”
Burnley-born McKellen’s love of theatre began at the age of three or four, when his parents took him to watch an adaptation of Peter Pan in Manchester.
While he wasn’t particularly impressed with the production or its special effects (“You could see the wires”), he recalls thinking, ‘I’m going to come back here, I want more of this’.
He nurtured his love of acting by appearing in plays at Bolton School, where he also had a stint as head boy. “I was in the pocket of the head teacher. I was useless,” he says of his tenure.
“But it’s surprising how many people were head boy who are actors ... show-offs!”
Known by audiences of all ages for roles such as the wizard Gandalf in The Lord Of The Rings trilogy (for which he was nominated for an Oscar), and even Corrie con-man Mel Hutchwright, McKellen’s latest appearance is as himself, in an upcoming episode of BBC genealogy show, Who Do You Think You Are?
In it, and in person, McKellen is just as captivating as the characters he portrays – and has you hanging on his every word.
He’s also expert at dramatic pauses (though that might be more down to the chocolate chip biscuit he’s eating while we chat).
During the programme he learns of a creative family tree, which includes a painter, a singer and an actor. And as a keen activist for gay rights, he’s also pleased to learn of a great-great-grandfather who campaigned on behalf of his fellow workers.
“They’re not neurotically bound up with their own