So, first of all, I've grabbed you right in the middle of day 2 of your press for X-Men, so,
what's the question you've been asked the most so far?
If you had a superhuman power, what would it be?
I can imagine that.
And imagine being asked that at 9 O'Clock in the morning. And my answer to it is that
peace would reign throughout the world. In peoples hearts and on battlefields and politics.
So, I've obviously just watched the trailer. Is it odd when something so big and flashy
and amazing-looking, looking at yourself in it and just thinking 'That's me!'
No, I can't believe it really and I can't believe my luck either. Because as a cinema
goer, I go and see these - very few, actually - but if you see a big blockbusting movie with
special effects that looks so real, you think 'How did they do that?' Sometimes, of course,
you say 'Why did they bother doing that?' But, in the case of X-Men, at the heart of
it is something spectacular and, I suppose, X-Men: Days of Future Past is as spectacular
a movie as you can get. But at the heart of it, there's a story of desperate human concern,
which is what does society do with its minorities. And mutants are a minority, they have special,
in-born gifts. They are peculiar, they're odd, they're different but does that mean
they should be treated differently or harshly or destroyed? And, if you are a member of
a minority of whatever sort because of your race or your age or your sexuality or the
country that you come from, then these stories take on an immediacy that is nothing to do
with special effects at all.
I'm glad you've said that because I tend to get in trouble for trying to apply real-world
logic to action films and I'm like 'Well, this is an interesting social commentary,
isn't it?' and the actors are like 'stop it.' And I'm like 'I don't think it's fair that
Spider-man got left to do all that. Where was the American Judicial system in that?'
This film is irresistible, there's so much there!
Particularly, Bryan Singer, when he asked me to play Magneto, was very clear about it.
He said, you're a gay man Ian, you know what it's like for society to point the finger
at you and to pass laws which inhibit your behaviour and your happiness. That's exactly
what is at the heart of X-Men. And Marvel, who publish the comics on which they're based, agree.
So, we're not doing anything seditious or round the corner, that's what X-Men is,
and I think that explains why they are so popular. It's not just entertainment, it's
not just special effects, it's not just spectacle, it's not just taking you out of the world,
it's actually about the real world.
And obviously you get entrusted with amazing characters in a lot of your films, have you
ever considered just trying to be in charge of the world?
I think you'd be great!
I think it's fun for me to play leaders, sometimes not very good leaders, like King Richard III
in the film I made of Shakespeare's play. And other parts on stage. I think why I quite
like playing these powerful people is because they're so unlike what I am. It's all, for
me, it's all make believe and pretend and fantasy-fulfilment, I suppose. And also because
I don't trust people who are in a position of power.
Really?
No. That's the first gift you can give someone who's very powerful. Don't trust them.
If they then do something to make you trust them, if they do something that appeals to you
or you feel is right and they stick up for virtue, then good for them and they've
confounded your suspicions, but, be suspicious.
- Be suspicious. I think you've got a voice for politics. - Thank you.
If we could pass one rule in Ian McKellen's world, what would it be?
Treat everybody the same. Whatever people's age, wherever they come from, whatever they
do in private, whatever they believe. The law must not discriminate and I've spent a
lot of my time making that point for gay people, but it applies to everybody. And many, many,
many people agree with me and that's when the world changes. When people with good intentions
actually work hard to change laws which discriminate. No discrimination, everybody the same, and
then we can all get on with being ourselves and we'd all get on with working and being together.
- Couldn't agree more. - Good.
- And, have I got time for one more? - Uh! Go on, very quickly.
Very quickly. The internet is in love with your friendship with Patrick Stewart.
Are you able to do an impression of him yet?
Oh, certainly not! He's Yorkshire, for goodness sake. I don't know why I give him the time
of day. Yorkshire. I'm from Lancashire, you see.
Oh, I see. Is he a tight Yorkshireman? Is it all cups of tea and budgeting with him?
No! No, he's blunt. Says it how it is, with that wonderful deep voice. No, I love Patrick.
I've just been working with him on Broadway, in two plays. but how could you not love Patrick.
He's a pussy cat. Very, very close to the surface, he's a pussy cat but the exterior
is so magisterial.
So, you've got the Yorkshire bluntness with the pussy cat underneath.
- There you go, it's irresistible. Irresistible. - Patrick Stewart, everyone.
- Ian, it's been a pleasure talking to you. - Alright, dear. Bye, Stephanie.