Showing posts with label Ian McKellen interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ian McKellen interview. Show all posts
My acting became less of a disguise, more of a revelation after coming out-Sir Ian Mckellen
7:54 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; May 25, 2016)
One of the most revered
British cinema and theatre actors, Sir Ian Mckellen is currently in
Mumbai on a special programme marking the 400th anniversary of
Shakespeare's death. Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan conversed with the
veteran actor on Monday evening at a session attended by fans of Sir
Ian, also comprising actors and filmmakers including Sonam Kapoor,
Rajkummar Rao, Kangana Ranaut, Imran Khan, Kabir Khan, Sudhir Mishra and
Kiran Rao. It also marked the launch of the Mumbai Film Club. The
conversation unveiled various facets of the lives of host Aamir and his
guest. For the first time, we saw our Mr perfectionist subconsciously
slipping into the role of an ardent fan, diligently making notes in his
head. Speaking of challenges, Aamir stated how working with directors who
didn't share his sensibilities in the initial few years of his career
was distressing.Displaying that trademark Brit humour, Sir Ian revealed
that making love to women on screen was most challenging for him, as
being gay, he didn't know what he had to do. Stressing on why it was
important to come out in the open about his sexual orientation, he
added, “I was 49 when I came out. My acting became less of a disguise,
more of a revelation after that. It's not easy for an actor as you
always wonder how the world might perceive you and if it would affect
the roles offered, but that didn't happen. Fortunately, I've never been
out of work. My phone hasn't stopped ringing and my biggest fan base is
female.“
Aamir also stressed on how living a character helps him do compete justice to it. Be it getting actually drunk to portray such scenes or pretending to love a woman even if that's not the case. “You don't have to fall in love with an actress, but you have to believe you have if the role requires it. I have romanced women on screen who I didn't get along with for a certain period. Juhi (Chawla) and I were at loggerheads during Ishq,“ he revealed. The Brit actor also inspired all to believe in oneself by saying how someone as immensely talented as Judi Dench was told she doesn't have the face of an actor. The highlight of the evening was when Sir Ian delivered a monologue from Sir Thomas More's powerful speech.
Bombay Times met the duo backstage for a brief chat post the session and here's what they had to say...
Sir Ian, Aamir is one of our finest actors, we saw him turn into a fanboy in front of you.
(Laughs) We are all fans and that's the most wonderful thing about being an actor! You get to meet your heroes and realise that we are all the same.
Any Hindi films of Aamir that you have seen?
Ian: I have seen a few of them and I have got a lot more to go.
Aamir: He has seen Taare Zameen Par.
Aamir, which is your favourite work of Sir Ian?
That's a difficult one because I have liked every role he has played. But the one that really bowled me over was Richard III That was really amazing.
Ian: I could imagine you being in that. I don't know what part. You can play Richard. You have got the charm for it.
Has India had any influence on you as a person?
Ian: I don't know yet. You have to ask me that once I am gone home.
Is this your first visit to the country?
Ian: I have been to Rajasthan as a tourist, but haven't been involved in the life here and I have just been here for two days now.
Aamir, any place in Mumbai that you would like to take him to?
Ian: Any gay clubs you know?
(laughs) Aamir: Ha ha, well I would have liked to take him to Elephanta Caves.
Ian: Yes, but we've got a busy schedule. So not on this occasion, but next time may be. I have been to the Gandhi ashram.
Aamir also stressed on how living a character helps him do compete justice to it. Be it getting actually drunk to portray such scenes or pretending to love a woman even if that's not the case. “You don't have to fall in love with an actress, but you have to believe you have if the role requires it. I have romanced women on screen who I didn't get along with for a certain period. Juhi (Chawla) and I were at loggerheads during Ishq,“ he revealed. The Brit actor also inspired all to believe in oneself by saying how someone as immensely talented as Judi Dench was told she doesn't have the face of an actor. The highlight of the evening was when Sir Ian delivered a monologue from Sir Thomas More's powerful speech.
Bombay Times met the duo backstage for a brief chat post the session and here's what they had to say...
Sir Ian, Aamir is one of our finest actors, we saw him turn into a fanboy in front of you.
(Laughs) We are all fans and that's the most wonderful thing about being an actor! You get to meet your heroes and realise that we are all the same.
Any Hindi films of Aamir that you have seen?
Ian: I have seen a few of them and I have got a lot more to go.
Aamir: He has seen Taare Zameen Par.
Aamir, which is your favourite work of Sir Ian?
That's a difficult one because I have liked every role he has played. But the one that really bowled me over was Richard III That was really amazing.
Ian: I could imagine you being in that. I don't know what part. You can play Richard. You have got the charm for it.
Has India had any influence on you as a person?
Ian: I don't know yet. You have to ask me that once I am gone home.
Is this your first visit to the country?
Ian: I have been to Rajasthan as a tourist, but haven't been involved in the life here and I have just been here for two days now.
Aamir, any place in Mumbai that you would like to take him to?
Ian: Any gay clubs you know?
(laughs) Aamir: Ha ha, well I would have liked to take him to Elephanta Caves.
Ian: Yes, but we've got a busy schedule. So not on this occasion, but next time may be. I have been to the Gandhi ashram.
India needs to grow up-Sir Ian McKellen
8:13 AM
Sir Ian McKellen on Shakespeare, naughty tales from his LGBT activism, and why India needs to shed its colonial hangover
Vishwas Kulkarni (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 24, 2016)
You've been associated with Shakespeare all your life. You've recently launched the Heuristic Shakespeare app to demystify the bard to a younger generation. You also quoted, "I've never downloaded an app in my life."
(Laughs). That is true. Actually, one of my long-standing collaborators, Richard Loncraine, the director of Richard III, was very keen on creating this app. He went to a good school that taught bad Shakespeare. The idea was to teach young kids Shakespeare in a way that is fun. For instance, how are you going to explain the significance of Shakespeare to a 14-year-old? So therefore an app that brings to life the text. That said, the Heuristic Shakespeare is an aid; it is not meant to be a substitute for reading Shakespeare or watching it on film or stage.
Speaking of stage, 10 years ago, The Daily Telegraph released a DVD indeed of Trevor Nunn's studio production of Macbeth, starring you and Judi Dench in her most iconic stage performance. To date, the publicity stills look edible.
It is, in my opinion, the most successful adaption of Macbeth. It had no scenery, we just wore these stark costumes. And Shakespeare suits television rather well. Characters can speak directly into the camera, almost like newscasters do. And Judi Dench was very, very good as Lady Macbeth.
Have you seen the latest Macbeth adaptation, starring Michael Fassbender? Critics call it one of the most relevant adaptations
I have, as a matter of fact, seen it. Yes, I did like it, though I think the director was more concerned with how good Scotland looked in the film. Shakespeare is like life itself. He keeps coming back, you see. Which is why it is very important to recreate him, to modernise him. My cousin got married a few years ago, and I asked her, "Can I gift you some towels?" And she said to me, "I already have towels". So yes, a modern context is helpful when it comes to adapting Shakespeare.
In the 1980s, you famously visited Environment Secretary Michael Howard to protest against a homophobic bill that was about to be passed. He didn't concede to your commands, but insisted that you leave an autograph for his kids. Legend goes that you signed off with "F*@k off, I'm gay".
That's not true. I said to a friend later that that is what I ought to have written, and that is how this fictitious anecdote came to be. You know how well-behaved gay people are.
On a live show in Singapore, you did ask the television talk show hostess to recommend some gay bars though. That wasn't very well-behaved.
Now that I did do! I found it preposterous that I was a criminal in Singapore. So I found a nice way to snuggle it in at the end. So, when the talk show hostess was done with the show, she asked me, "So what are you looking to do in Singapore?" And I said, "I'm looking for some decent gay bars here. Can you recommend some?" I think the end credits started rolling a lot faster after that comment. And by the way, I did find a cool gay bar! See, that is the great irony. You can have a dictatorship, you can have laws that criminalise homosexuality, but gay men will find a way to live a life, have fun.
Do you feel the 1980s were a lot more loaded with connotation for the queer community in the West than at present, where there is so much more acceptance?
The 1980s was loaded with context because, with the onset of AIDS, the government was being forced to talk about the sexual act publicly, specifically the gay sexual act. At the same time, they were attempting to pass a bill that would make it illegal to discuss homosexuality with children, which I found deeply offensive. Can you imagine the thousands of lives that could have been ruined with such policies? That was my fight with Michael Howard, who later did publicly apologise, because the point is that the lives of millions are at stake with laws such as these. India is going through what the UK went through 30 years ago. It is appalling and ironical that India would use a colonial law to oppress its homosexuals. India needs to grow up. India needs to realise that it doesn't need to follow British laws any more. But things are changing on other fronts. Kashish, Mumbai's LGBT film festival, is a great example of that.
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