Ian McKellen

“Shakespeare's villains are seductive because they are so clever.”

“My acting is a bit like a chameleon. I can adapt to any situation.”

“Actors are agents of change. A film, a piece of theater, a piece of music, or a book can make a difference.”

“If you're an actor, you should be able to do anything.”

“I think the first duty of a gay person is to come out.”

“There's no better disguise than honesty.”

“I've always been a wanderer. I've always been a searcher.”

“Prejudice is making assumptions about people you don't know.”

“I think the theatre is as essential to civilization as safe, pure water.”

“Everything I do is a political act.”

“My acting is not manual, but instinctive. I don't do a lot of research.”

“The privacy of a public person is a myth.”

“Acting is a very personal process. It has to do with expressing your own personality, and discovering the character you're playing through your own experience.”

“The great thing about acting is that you can do it until you fall over. There are no rules.”

“If you're an actor, you should be able to turn your hand to anything.”

“The most precious thing in life is its uncertainty.”

“It's a lovely thing to be a part of a community. I'm a member of a number of communities.”

“There is no generosity in giving to others what you would not take for yourself.”

“Life is too short to be spent doing things you don't enjoy.”

“There's no bigger thrill than acting on stage.”