Ian McKellen recalls ‘inglorious’ debut performance and marks 65 years of acting

Sir Ian McKellen has reminisced about his “inglorious” debut performance as he celebrated 65 years since his acting career began on Friday.

The actor, 87, has entertained audiences both on stage and screen during his decades-long career, winning a host of Olivier awards, a Tony award, a Golden Globe and two Oscar nominations.

Sir Ian is known for his stage roles in Shakespearean dramas, and on the silver screen is famed for characters such as Gandalf in The Lord Of The Rings films, and powerful mutant Magneto in the X-Men franchise.

He posted on Instagram on Friday reminiscing about his debut performance in a production of A Man For All Seasons.

To his 3.1 million followers, Sir Ian wrote: “My acting career is 65 years old today.

“It began at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, which then had a year-round company of actors presenting a new production every two weeks.

“My first, fresh from my graduation from Cambridge University, was a revival of A Man For All Seasons, Robert Bolt’s popular re-telling of Thomas More’s fatal political battle with King Henry 8th.

“My part was the hero’s son-in-law young Will Roper.”

Sir Ian McKellen remembered his decades-long career (Ian West/PA)

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The post, which was accompanied by an image of the bright red logo of the Coventry theatre, continued: “My debut was inglorious.

“After the excitement of my first scene, I went upstairs to my dressing-room to recover, only to hear the stage manager’s urgent message on the backstage tannoy system: ‘Mr. McKellen you are off’, meaning I had missed my entrance for Roper’s second appearance.

“I made it down to the stage level only to discover that my colleagues had completed the scene, effortlessly covering my absence with an improvisation or two.

“I sat disconsolate in the green room after the show.

“The leading lady Sheila Keith approached the dejected, newest member of the troupe: ‘Don’t worry, dear. A professional actor is off only once in their career. Aren’t you lucky to have got it over with, so early?'”

Sir Ian has since forged a reputation as one of the UK’s leading actors.

He has earned praise for his landmark performances in Shakespearean theatre, and went on to conquer Broadway before becoming a household name through Hollywood blockbusters and major film franchises.

He has shown no signs of slowing down and is to star in a reimagined production of Lear at The Yard Theatre in London later this year.