VIDEO: Sir Ian McKellen Opens Up on Growing Up Gay in New Docuseries IT GOT BETTER

By: May. 24, 2016
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In Season 3 of IT GOT BETTER, a docuseries launched on on L/Studio, Sir Ian McKellen opens up about coming to terms with his sexuality and his decision to devote his energy toward the fight for gay rights.

In the video, McKellen, who recently lent his voice to Disney's live-action BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, explains how today's more tolerant attitude toward gays was non-existant when he was a teen in 1930's Northern England.

A legend of the stage and screen, Sir Ian McKellen has been honored with over 50 international acting awards and is co-founder of Stonewall UK, which lobbies for legal and social equality for gay people. He is treasured worldwide as "Magneto" in the X-Men films and "Gandolf" in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Born and raised in the north of England, 75-year-old McKellen attended Cambridge University and since 1961 has worked non-stop in the British theatre. Among his countless accolades, he has won Olivier Awards for "Macbeth," "The Alchemist," "Beny," "Wild Honey" and "Richard III." In 1991 Sir Ian was knighted for his outstanding contribution to theatre. In 2008, the Queen personally appointed him Companion of Honour for his services to drama and to equality.



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