Sir Ian McKellen decided on life-changing role after ‘advice from my then-lover’ | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV

The star-studded 1997 film also features Sir Ian in an impactful, but small, role as the dapper Uncle Freddie who Max goes to for help when trying to flee France. However, coming back to the story decades later held a new level of sincerity for the actor. 

At the Q&A, Sir Ian seemed visibly taken aback by his recollection of the show, saying he had “grown up as Max does” between playing Max on stage and returning to the story in film. 

Sir Ian had candidly admitted his sexuality during a live show on BBC Radio 3 in 1988. While discussing the controversial Clause 28 of the Local Government Bill.

In a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, the actor said: “I think it’s offensive to anyone who is, like myself, homosexual, apart from the business of what can or cannot be taught to children.”

On his website, in a blog post from 2000, Sir Ian admitted the uncanny circumstances that Mathias would end up directing the 1997 film after being “one of the play’s earliest champions”. 

Richard Gere took over as Max for the Broadway rendition of Bent, and Sir Ian noted that they were both excited about the possibility of returning to the role on-screen but added: “Both Richard and I were too old to play Max. Our loss was Clive Owen’s gain.”