304 Quotes by Ian Mckellen

There are some tremendous actors in the U.K. who have been knighted, and I've spent much of my life admiring many of them, like Laurence Olivier. So it's very flattering to be in their company. But you also end up in the company of people you don't admire, including some rather dodgy politicians.

When I've been asked what should be on my gravestone, I've said: 'Here lies Gandalf. He came out.' Two big achievements.

When I left Cambridge, I applied to regional repertory theaters in the U.K. and got accepted by one of them... And here I am, still at it.

When I appeared in 'Coronation Street,' I lived in Manchester and enjoyed it very much.

There are people who've enjoyed my work in the theater, and they let me know that it was special for them. I'm not going to say, 'Well, you should have seen me as Gandalf!'

'Macbeth' was a very lucky play for me.

Magneto wants to cope with the difficulties thrust upon him by society and by his own nature.

'Lord of the Rings' was about saving the world, big time, big duties.

Shakespeare's villains are fabulous because none of them know that they are villains. Well, sometimes they do.