July 27th 2024.
Sir Ian McKellen stunned fans with his recent transformation for his role as Sir John Falstaff in the stage play Player Kings. The 85-year-old icon of stage and screen had been cast in this new version of Shakespeare's Henry IV: Parts 1 and 2, written and directed by Robert Icke.
To fully embody the character, Sir Ian wore an inflatable stomach and grew out his hair and beard. However, during one of the performances, disaster struck and the national treasure took a tumble off the stage. Thankfully, he made a full recovery after a few days in the hospital, but unfortunately, he had to end his tour of the play.
Despite this setback, Sir Ian was determined to attend the final performance of Player Kings in Newcastle. To mark the end of the show, he sheared off his Falstaff hair and beard, revealing a clean-shaven look that marked a new chapter for the veteran actor.
Posting a photo of his new look on Instagram, Sir Ian thanked his hairdresser and joked about removing Falstaff's hair, which had been growing for nine months. However, some followers were initially taken aback by the photo, not realizing it was just a haircut. Thankfully, Sir Ian seems to be in good spirits and recovering well since his fall.
Speaking of his fall, Sir Ian explained that he lost his footing during a fight scene and had to be rushed to the hospital. After three days of rest and physiotherapy, he was on the road to recovery. However, he was advised by his doctors to take more time off work to fully heal, and so he was unable to return for the remaining London dates of the play's tour.
While Sir Ian's understudy, David Semark, took over the role of Falstaff, the actor expressed his regret at not being able to perform for his audience. He also thanked everyone for their support and well-wishes during his recovery.
But even though he couldn't return to the stage, Sir Ian is already looking forward to his next project. If you've got a celebrity story, video, or pictures, you can reach out to the entertainment team at The Agency. Sir Ian also revealed that he almost starred in the popular soap opera Emmerdale, but unfortunately, the role was banned.
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