Ian McKellen reveals Alec Guinness once 'pleaded with' him not to publicly support LGBTQ rights

LIMEHOUSE, LONDON: Actor Ian McKellen has reflected on a private conversation he once had with late actor Alec Guinness, revealing that he urged him not to publicly support gay rights activism. McKellen shared the memory during a recent interview with The Guardian on Thursday, May 7.

He described how Guinness believed it was “unseemly” for actors to become involved in political causes. Despite the advice, McKellen continued his activism and went on to become one of the most prominent LGBTQ+ advocates in the entertainment industry.

Alec Guinness’ private appeal to Ian McKellen on LGBTQ rights

McKellen responded to questions submitted by readers to the outlet, asking, “What’s the worst piece of advice you’ve ever been given?” The actor recalled an encounter with Guinness, widely regarded as one of the most important British actors of the 20th century.

McKellen said he first met Guinness in 1979, when the veteran actor attended a performance of his play 'Bent.' "Alec Guinness sat rather primly in my dressing room, enthusing about the play before inviting me out to supper. I stupidly declined, but a decade later was given a second chance to meet up with the great man," he added.

He continued, "He took me for an Italian lunch in Pimlico, where we chatted about this and that until he brought up the real reason for his invitation. 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 UK lesbians and gays equally under the law with the rest of the population."

He further noted, "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. Advice from an older generation, which I didn't follow." McKellen publicly came out as gay in 1988 during a BBC radio interview and has since remained a consistent advocate for LGBTQ+ rights over the years.

In The Guardian piece, he also said the memory of his conversation with Guinness, who died in 2000 at the age of 86, resurfaced after he saw a recent stage production titled 'Two Halves of Guinness'. He described it as “a solo show which hints at Sir Alec’s latent bisexuality in a way that would have upset him, I suppose.”

Alec Guinness’ legacy, personal life, and Ian McKellen’s reflections

Guinness won an Academy Award, BAFTA, Tony Award, and Golden Globe during his decades-long acting career and notably starred in classic 1960s movies like 'Lawrence of Arabia' and 'Doctor Zhivago.' He is perhaps remembered best among pop culture fans for originating the character Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original three 'Star Wars' movies.

As McKellen noted to The Guardian, reports emerged in 2001 after Guinness' death that the actor was bisexual. The BBC reported at the time that three biographies published following the actor's death established that he hid his sexuality from the public throughout his life, but was considered out among his family and friends.

Guinness was married to actress and playwright Merula Silvia Salaman; they had a son, Matthew Guinness, now 85, who also had an acting career, according to a 2000 article in The Telegraph.

As McKellen appeared in the interview, British actor and radio broadcaster Zeb Soanes began performing a one-man show about Guinness' life titled 'Two Halves of Guinness' to mark the 25th anniversary of the actor's death. 

The show is currently touring the UK, per its official website. McKellen most recently appeared in this year's 'The Christophers.' He will next take to the big screen when he reprises his 'X-Men' role as Magneto in December's 'Avengers: Doomsday.'