Ian McKellen has revealed it will be at least another year before he is back on stage after he suffered a fall during a West End performance in June.
The actor, 85, lost his balance and went ‘head first’ into the audience before letting out a ‘blood-curdling scream’ while performing in Player Kings at the Noel Coward theatre.
The Lord Of The Rings star has been on the mend since but admitted he first thought he had broken his neck right after the fall.
Ian joined Simon Marks on his Greatest Hits Radio Drivetime show on Wednesday where he discussed the time frame he’s given himself before returning to the world of theatre.
He said: ‘What I’ve been left with is not so much a physical injury, but a mental disturbance because I thought it was much more serious at the time that it was.
Ian McKellen has revealed it will be at least another year before he is back on stage after he suffered a fall during a West End performance in June
The actor, 85, lost his balance and went ‘head first’ into the audience before letting out a ‘blood-curdling scream’ while performing in Player Kings at the Noel Coward theatre
‘I think I thought I was about to die, I thought I’d broken my neck I’d forgotten but apparently, I’d said, ‘I’ve broken my neck, I am dying’ and if I said it, I must have thought that I was. And I’ve just got to deal with that. I’m not dying, not just yet and I hope I’ll get back to acting again on stage.’
When asked by Simon when he would know if the time was right, Ian replied: ‘That’s a good point – I think I’ll know because the contract says I have to turn up at a particular time! I’m not proposing to work on stage for another year and I think by then this will all be alright.’
With stage roles off limits for the next twelve months Simon asked about recent rumours that Sir Ian is set to reprise his iconic role as Gandalf in Lord Of The Rings.
He said: ‘One can’t be indifferent to the possibility that I might be able to go back and play a part that I thought I’d finished with nearly 25 years ago.
‘There are apparently going to be two films that might involve Gandalf in some way, but until I’ve read a script I don’t know whether it’s something I’d want to do – but I do feel rather proprietal towards him.’
Meanwhile, Ian also joined Jimmy Hill on the Capital Evening show on Wednesday where he admitted that he ‘filched’ one of the iconic props from The Lord Of The Rings film series, with director Peter Jackson none the wiser.
Host Jimmy said he had heard Ian has Gandalf’s staff behind the bar in his London pub The Grapes.
He said: ‘Over the past few weeks, Ian, everyone has been talking about you potentially reprising your role as Gandalf in The Lord Of The Rings.
Ian joined Simon Marks on his Greatest Hits Radio Drivetime show on Wednesday where he discussed the time frame he’s given himself before returning to the world of theatre
Asked about rumours he is set to reprise his role as Gandalf in The Lord Of The Rings, Ian said he would need to see a script before he decides if it’s something he’d like to do
‘I have read, and I think I’m right in saying this, the staff – the Gandalf staff – is behind the bar in your pub, in The Grapes?’
Ian replied: ‘In my pub in Limehouse, if you want to go and see it.’
Jimmy said: ‘So, are they going to have to go into your pub and break in and steal the staff?’
Ian said: ‘That’s an interesting point. Now, Peter Jackson, who directed those Middle Earth movies, has kept everything. Now, everything is a lot, because every person in that movie wore a wig.
‘They’ve all been persevered – the moustaches, the eyebrows, the padding, all have been preserved; every prop that was used, every sword, every shield, every pair of gloves.
‘The last time I saw Peter Jackson, he said, ‘Yes, I do have everything. There’s just one thing I can’t find anywhere, it’s the keys to Bag End.’ Well, don’t tell him, but they’re hanging in my house. I filched them!’
Jimmy replied: ‘It’ll be fine, he’ll be able to get a new set cut!’
Ian then joked: ‘They can make some new keys, and they can probably make a new staff.’
Tune into The Capital Evening Show with Jimmy Hill, weekdays from 7pm-10pm on Capital