Ian McKellen

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Hailed at Broadway's 1992 Tony Awards as 'the world's greatest classical actor', Sir Ian McKellen has been a leading theatre actor since the 1960s. With Gods and Monsters, the X-Men movies and his star role as Gandalf in the phenomenally successful The Lord of the Rings trilogy he has now conquered Hollywood too.From his Lancashire childhood, blighted by the death of his mother, to Cambridge University, where his contemporaries included Trevor Nunn and Derek Jacobi, and on through a triumphant acting career, friends and colleagues illuminate the creation of legendary performances like Richard II, Macbeth, Max in Bent and Richard III. McKellen's success on Broadway also led on to his ground-breaking work running the Actors' Company and the McKellen/Petherbridge Company at the National Theatre.Knighted in 1991, Ian McKellen has become known for his advocacy of gay rights in addition to his acting. But what drives him to act, or to stand up for controversial issues, such as speaking out against war? How has his life formed his views? What influence does he wield?Hugely readable and informative, Mark Barratt's study gives a rare insight into the life and work of one of Britain's greatest actors.