Sir Ian McKellen has claimed convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein rigged the Academy Awards in 1999 when he was set to become the first openly gay actor to win.
The actor, 86, who has been nominated twice, has said Weinstein dashed his hopes of winning when he was nominated for Best Actor for Gods and Monsters.
Speaking at the Two Brewers, a gay bar in London’s Clapham, Ian said the film producer had ‘all sorts of ways’ of promoting his movies during awards season.
The gong was ultimately won by Roberto Benigni for his leading role in Life is Beautiful, which was created by Weinstein’s production company, Miramax.
Speaking on Weinstein’s slight, Ian said: ‘Gods and Monsters was a breakthrough and I was embraced by that side of the industry. I received an Oscar nomination. But did not receive an Oscar.
‘And I had a note in my pocket for years later saying “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m proud to be the first openly gay actor to receive this award.”
Sir Ian McKellen has claimed convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein rigged the Academy Awards in 1999 when he was set to become the first openly gay actor to win
The actor, 86, who has been nominated twice, has said Weinstein dashed his hopes of winning when he was nominated for Best Actor for Gods and Monsters
‘Well, I had to put it back in my pocket. And what’s that man who’s in prison now? Harvey Weinstein.
‘He was a very successful film producer and had all sorts of ways in promoting his movies. And he was very busy come awards season time, making sure that it was his films that won the awards.
‘And the year I was nominated and I think was the front runner for a few weeks before the actual ceremony. I didn’t win the award.
‘It went to Roberto Benigni (Life is Beautiful).
‘Anyway, he won the award and it was a film, this is the point, Harvey Weinstein had produced.
‘And about five or six years later, we met at some other event and he said, “Oh, I do apologise for stealing the Oscar from you. Which was nice, but he’s in prison now.”
The Lord of the Rings famously came out in 1998 during a BBC radio interview aged 48.
He recently expressed his sorrow for celebrities who feel they cannot come out, describing being closeted as ‘silly.’
Since being open about his own sexuality, he has been one of the most prominent British gay stars and is an advocate of LGBTQ+ issues.
Despite being the front runner for weeks, the award went to Roberto Benigni (pictured)
In a new interview, Sir Ian encouraged young, closeted actors to listen to their hearts and be their authentic selves.
He said: ‘I have never met anybody who came out who regretted it. I feel sorry for any famous person who feels they can’t come out.
‘Being in the closet is silly — there’s no need for it. Don’t listen to your advisers, listen to your heart.’
Speaking to The Times of London, Sir Ian added: ‘Listen to your gay friends who know better. Come out. Get into the sunshine.’
Sir Ian noted that there has yet to be an openly gay best actor winner at the Oscars, and how the UK’s premier league football remains a straight sport.
‘In women’s sport it’s not an issue,’ he continued.
‘I would imagine young footballers are probably, like actors, getting very bad advice from agents who are worried about their own incomes.
‘But the first Premier League footballer to come out will become the most famous footballer in the world, with all the agencies begging for his name on their products.’
Sir Ian has expressed his sorrow for celebrities who feel they cannot come out
Kate Winslet previously revealed that she knows a number of young stars who are ‘terrified’ to reveal their sexuality
Sir Ian was one of the founding members of Stonewall, an LGBTQ+ rights charity in the United Kingdom.
In 2021, actress Kate Winslet told The Sunday Times that she knows of countless young stars who are ‘terrified’ to reveal their sexuality.
She told the publication: ‘I cannot tell you the number of young actors I know — some well known, some starting out — who are terrified their sexuality will be revealed and that it will stand in the way of their being cast in straight roles.
‘Now that’s f***ed up…
‘I can think of at least four actors absolutely hiding their sexuality.
‘It’s painful because they fear being found out. And that’s what they say, “I don’t want to be found out.”‘
