Sir Ian McKellen - Gandalf
London, UK, May 2003
What are your memories of
first getting the role of Gandalf ?
Thinking : "Oh my God, do I have to read the book ?" I thought Peter
Jackson and Fran Walsh, who came to visit me, were nicely eccentric and not
tainted by the mainstream film industry. That was very attractive. Although it
was going to be a studio film, it was to have an independent feel - and so it's
proved.
What is your character's
defining moment ?
One that didn't get much screen time actually - that's his revival, his
reurrection, his return. Up on the mountain when he simply has to get back and
finish the job, and chastises himself for not having quite attended to what was
going on, that he was caught on the hop and had to improvise. The powers that be
send him back. So although in Middle-Earth to be all powerful, he actually is
the servant of greater powers and forces, and that's when you really see that.
Why do you think Rings has
been so successful ?
It's a true adventure story - it makes you feel weepy and at the same time it
makes you feel scared and excited. You've never seen anything like it. For all
ist technology and trickery, Peter deflects attention away from the fact that he's
using state-of-the-art film magic. You just assume that Gollum is what he seems
to be. You assume that really is Middle-Earth you're looking at. Every single
department is working at full stretch, and I don't think Howard Shore has
written any better music than this. Peter himself is stretched and not found
wanting, the actors are very strong indeed, and the cinematography is
magnificent; costumes, the design generally - everyone was working at full
stretch. Of course, there are quite a few people who simply don't like the genre
or think it's not for them. Well, I'm sorry but there are certain sorts of movie
that I don't go and see that other people would find very attractive and swear
by. I suspect if [those who have avoided the trilogy] could be dragged to the
cinema, they would have at least admire it and suspect it would begin to tale
them over.
Which of the other roles
would you like to have played ?
Frodo, the young adventurer, the brave boy who's not found wanting and doesn't
return home. And he's all over New Zealand, the Frodo figure : young,
fresh-faced kids who went off on a journey outside New Zealand to fight evil
under someone else's orders and never made it home. Frodo's one of those. I'm
sure Tolkien was thinking about his own son, who was in World War II fighting
evil.
Describe Peter Jackson in
three words.
Humorous... Determined... Shy.
What is your favourite piece
of the Lord Of The Rings memorabilia ?
I pinched the keys to Bag End, the small keys and the large keys because there
were two Bag End sets.So I do have those. But I liked the lizard door handles
from Orthanc that I've got, that are crawling around in my study.
What was the toughest thing
you had to do ?
The most unpleasant thing was the snow, being buried in the snow. It wasn't real
snow in the studio and it got into every orfice, down your throat, up your nose,
in your ears - it was disgusting !