Ian McKellen‘s advocacy for gay rights was ongoing long before it became a talking point in Hollywood, even when some of the industry’s biggest stars thought he should keep his mouth shut.
Why Alec Guinness Quietly Urged Ian McKellen to Stay Silent on Gay Rights
The legendary actor recently shared a memory with Alec Guinness (Star Wars’ Obi-Wan Kenobi) in one of his personal anecdotes. McKellen said Guinness had previously invited him to lunch with the specific aim of dissuading him from being politically active.
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“He had heard about my work to establish Stonewall, a lobby group to present to the government and the world at large the case for treating U.K. lesbians and gays equally under the law with the rest of the population. He thought it somewhat unseemly for an actor to dabble in public or political affairs and advised me, sort of pleaded with me, to withdraw,” he told The Guardian.
McKellen remembered that Guinness considered public activism to be inappropriate for actors and that they should not be involved in political causes at all. It was a message from an older generation of entertainers, one that was formed in a vastly different social climate. However, McKellen chose not to listen.
The actor has emerged as one of the most esteemed LGBTQ+ voices in the entertainment industry, and his public coming out in 1988 has had a profound impact on British pop culture. The act of coming out was a very risky thing to do, particularly for actors at the time.
Careers could come to a standstill in a single day, public opinion was more negative, and many stars were encouraged to hide parts of themselves to stay marketable. In that context, McKellen’s words are particularly emotional. He didn’t seem to be angry at Guinness; he seemed to view the encounter as a reflection of generational fear.
Hollywood Has Changed, But McKellen Thinks Fear Still Exists
Decades later, McKellen is still promoting open living. In past interviews, he’s stated that he’s “never met anybody who came out who regretted it.” He now wants younger actors and athletes not to be afraid or pressured out of coming out.
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While there’s been a huge amount of progress in the representation of LGBTQ+ people, McKellen feels many public figures are still getting bad advice behind the scenes. He recently pointed out that there has never been an openly gay Best Actor Oscar winner or even an openly gay Premier League footballer.
It’s interesting to hear an actor in his 80s talking about visibility and honesty with such passion. The movie industry has changed a lot since the time McKellen entered it decades ago.
His story highlights how much pressure famous people once faced to stay invisible, and how some of that pressure may still exist. Ultimately, McKellen’s refusal to follow that advice made him more than just a popular actor; it made him a vital voice off-screen.
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