September 9th 2024.
The next big news in the entertainment world features none other than the esteemed Sir Ian McKellen. The 85-year-old acting legend recently opened up about a frightening incident that occurred earlier this year during a live theatre performance. While on stage at the Noël Coward Theatre in London, Sir Ian lost his balance and fell into the front row of the audience.
Reflecting on the incident on Monday's episode of This Morning, Sir Ian revealed, "I had a bit of an accident, which wasn't too bad physically because I was wearing a fat suit, because I was playing a big fat man. That broke the fall!" Despite his physical recovery, Sir Ian admitted that he is still dealing with the emotional aftermath of the fall, as he initially feared he may have broken his neck. "Physically, yes, but I thought as it was happening that it was very serious," he shared. "And apparently I said, 'I've broken my neck, I'm dying.' I don't remember saying it, but I did. So I must've felt it, and I think that's inside me somewhere. So when that's gone, I'll feel like I'm better, so I'm not going to work for a bit."
The accident occurred during a particularly intense battle scene in the play "Player Kings." Sir Ian's foot got caught in a chair, causing him to slide on scattered newspaper across the stage. The fall resulted in chipped vertebrae and a fractured wrist, injuries that continue to affect the veteran actor. However, he acknowledges that the outcome could have been much worse if he wasn't wearing the fat suit, and if he didn't land on a member of the audience. "I don't remember exactly what happened. I finally found out who she was, and so I've been in contact with her," he shared with a chuckle. "But I hope she's alright!"
Aside from his theatre work, Sir Ian also discussed the possibility of reprising his iconic role as Gandalf in the highly anticipated prequel TV series "The Rings of Power." When asked by This Morning host Ben Shephard if his break would give him enough time to recover before filming, Sir Ian jokingly replied, "Yes!" He then added, "Well, all I know is that they called me up and said these films were going to happen, they're mainly going to be about Gollum . . . and then I'll judge whether I want to go back! I'd love to go back to New Zealand, number one, and I don't like the idea of anyone else playing Gandalf. Don't forget, there were two Dumbledores!"
The original "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson, was a massive success, winning 17 Academy Awards. The final installment, "Return of the King," even tied the record for most Oscars with "Titanic" and "Ben-Hur." Due to its unwavering popularity, Amazon Prime is currently airing a prequel TV series, "The Rings of Power," but unfortunately, it will not feature Sir Ian's iconic character. However, he was one of the few cast members from the original films who returned for the "Hobbit" trilogy, alongside Andy Serkis.
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV1, and if you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures to share, you can contact the entertainment team by emailing them, calling, or visiting their website. It's safe to say that Sir Ian McKellen's epic fall may have caused a stir, but he's still as charming and humorous as ever. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him back on the big screen soon!
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