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McKellen: Mortality's 'Ever Present' After Horror Fall
15 Feb
Summary
- Sir Ian McKellen reflects on his 2024 stage fall two years later.
- He suffered a chipped vertebra and fractured wrist from the incident.
- McKellen acknowledges his mortality and the presence of death.
Sir Ian McKellen, 86, has candidly discussed his stage fall two years ago, acknowledging a profound realization of his mortality. The actor fell from the stage of the Noel Coward Theatre in 2024 during a performance of Shakespeare's Henry IV, sustaining injuries including a chipped vertebra and fractured wrist.
He shared that this experience, coupled with the commonality of friends passing away, has led him to accept that he is 'not immortal.' McKellen described death as an 'ever present' feature of aging. Despite the incident, he continues to act and feels he can still remember his lines.
Looking for safer ways to work, McKellen is involved in 'An Ark at the Shed,' an experimental VR production. He noted that the controlled environment of VR allows for breaks, unlike the demands of live theatre, which he still loves despite the inherent risks.
Despite his health concerns and approaching 90, Sir Ian expressed a desire not to slow down, even mentioning a potential return as Gandalf in a future Lord of the Rings project, with filming anticipated in New Zealand in May 2026 for a new movie slated for December 2027.
