Sir Ian McKellen says he has no plans to retire as he thinks he’s pretty good at acting now
It looks like Sir Ian McKellen is sticking around the stage and screen for the foreseeable future.
Despite being 84 years old, he says he has no plans to retire and feels like he's getting into his groove.
In a wide-ranging interview with Variety, the legendary British actor hit back at the suggestion he should walk away from his decades-long career.
“Retire to do what?” he asked to the outlet.
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“I’ve never been out of work, but I’m aware that any minute now something could happen to me which could prevent me from ever working again.
"But while the knees hold up and the memory remains intact, why shouldn’t I carry on? I really feel I’m quite good at this acting thing now.”
He isn't wrong when he says he's not short of a job.
Last year, he did Hamlet with Ian McKellen at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and also had a stage production of Mother Goose run from 2022 to this year, and had Frank and Percy this year.
Variety says he's also just filmed The Critic, as well as a film adaptation of Hamlet, along with voicing a role for a new show from Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane.
A reviewer recently criticised Sir Ian for forgetting his lines during a preview of Frank and Percy and the actor didn't take too kindly with the critique.
"Instead of understanding that this happens from time to time, this critic says it was evidence that it was time for Ian McKellen to stop acting,” he said.
“Maybe I should challenge this man to a podcast where we could debate it.”
But Sir Ian isn't the only elderly actor who has refused to retire.
Dame Judi Dench says she isn't considering hanging up her scripts anytime soon, even though she can't read them anymore.
During an interview with The Mirror's Notebook magazine, the legendary actor opened up about her battle with macular degeneration, which leads to a gradual loss of eyesight.
“I mean, I can't see on a film set anymore. And I can't see to read. So I can't see much,” she told the outlet.
"But, you know, you just deal with it. Get on.”
While her condition has worsened, her friends have stepped in to help her learn her lines.
“It's difficult for me if I have any length of a part. I haven't yet found a way. Because I have so many friends who will teach me the script. But I have a photographic memory,” she added.
Macular degeneration is a common eye disorder that usually affects those over 50.
According to Health Direct, macular degeneration is caused by damage to the cells in the retina's central region (macula).
Topics: Celebrity
Stewart Perrie