- Primary Subject: Ian McKellen's revelation regarding his past interaction with Alec Guinness over LGBTQ+ activism
- Key Update: In a recent interview, Sir Ian McKellen shared that the Star Wars legend once "pleaded" with him to stop his public advocacy for gay rights, calling such political involvement "unseemly" for an actor.
- Status: Trending
- Last Verified: May 11, 2026
- Quick Answer: Alec Guinness allegedly advised Ian McKellen to stay silent on gay rights because he believed actors should avoid political affairs; McKellen disregarded the advice and co-founded Stonewall.
Before becoming the face of Magneto or Gandalf, Sir Ian McKellen was a burning activist, whom apparently not everyone in Hollywood was cheering for. McKellen recently revealed a surprising historical exchange with the late Star Wars legend Alec Guinness, who reportedly "pleaded" with him to stay in the closet. McKellen reflects on the generational gap clash after all these years.
Alec Guinness Allegedly Told Ian McKellen to "Withdraw" Gay Rights Support
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In a recent interview with The Guardian, Ian McKellen recalled that Obi-Wan Kenobi actor Alec Guinness advised him not to go public when advocating for gay rights. Guinness allegedly told McKellen to "withdraw" his support for the UK gay rights lobby group Stonewall, which at the time was fighting for government protection, seeking equality treatment under the law.
It all started when Guinness heard about the Lord of the Rings star's work to establish Stonewall, which would present a case to work on to treat UK lesbians and gays equally under the law. "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."
McKellen does consider that Guinness comes from an older generation with a much different background from his and said, "Advice from an older generation, which I didn't follow."
McKellen said he was recently reminded about this particular conversation with Guinness after watching the touring play, Two Halves of Guinness, a solo show that stars Zeb Soanes as the Star Wars actor, and according to McKellen, "hints at Sir Alec's latent bisexuality in a way that would have upset him, I suppose."
What McKellen Advises the Youth in the Industry
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The Lord of the Rings and X-Men icon McKellen came out as gay to the public in 1988 at 48 years old during a radio interview on the BBC. Last year, he told The Times of London how he feels sorry for fellow actors who feel they can't come out as gay and encouraged closeted stars to reconsider.
"I have never met anybody who came out who regretted it," McKellen said, "Being in the closet is silly — there’s no need for it. Don’t listen to your advisers, listen to your heart. Listen to your gay friends who know better. Come out. Get into the sunshine.”
McKellen observed that there has never been an openly gay Oscar winner for best actor, nor has there been any openly gay UK Prime Minister or Premier League soccer player, who might likely be "getting very bad advice from agents who are worried about their incomes."
But the 86-year-old actor believes that the first Premier League footballer to come out will likely "become the most famous footballer in the world, with all the agencies begging for his name on their products," further urging closeted actors in the industry to join the parade.
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