It was 50 years ago that an eager young actor named Ian McKellen, then aged just 22, stepped out on the Belgrade Theatre stage here in Coventry to make his professional debut.
It was 1961 and he played Sir Thomas More's son-in-law William Roper in A Man For All Seasons.
Sir Ian has gone on to become one of Britain's best-known stage and screen actors in such films as Gods and Monsters, the X-Men series and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Last night, the 72-year-old returned to the birthplace of his career for a fundraising evening, Back At The Belgrade, on the exact day of his first performance there half a century ago.
The one-night special included memories of his acting days in Coventry - where he appeared in 17 productions at the Belgrade - and a look back on his stage and film career.
He talked about his Lord Of The Rings...
It was 1961 and he played Sir Thomas More's son-in-law William Roper in A Man For All Seasons.
Sir Ian has gone on to become one of Britain's best-known stage and screen actors in such films as Gods and Monsters, the X-Men series and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Last night, the 72-year-old returned to the birthplace of his career for a fundraising evening, Back At The Belgrade, on the exact day of his first performance there half a century ago.
The one-night special included memories of his acting days in Coventry - where he appeared in 17 productions at the Belgrade - and a look back on his stage and film career.
He talked about his Lord Of The Rings...
- 9/5/2011
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
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