Long before he was Magneto the Master of Magnetism or Gandalf the Wandering Wizard, Sir Ian McKellen was a well-known figure in British theatre, often performing at the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre. And while his sexual orientation was known to his fellow thespians, it wasn't until 1988 that he came out to the general public on BBC Radio.
During a debate with conservative journalist Peregrine Worsthorne – somehow not a "Harry Potter" character – about Section 28, a controversial law that proposed prohibiting local authorities from promoting homosexuality as "a kind of pretended family relationship," McKellen said,...
The post Sir Ian McKellen Was Brought Onto X-Men For More Than Just His Acting Expertise appeared first on /Film.
During a debate with conservative journalist Peregrine Worsthorne – somehow not a "Harry Potter" character – about Section 28, a controversial law that proposed prohibiting local authorities from promoting homosexuality as "a kind of pretended family relationship," McKellen said,...
The post Sir Ian McKellen Was Brought Onto X-Men For More Than Just His Acting Expertise appeared first on /Film.
- 7/25/2022
- by Adam Frazier
- Slash Film
Gossip abounds at the Oldie of the Year lunch as the great and good gather to exchange jokes, jibes and a bit of mild filth
Off to the Oldie of the Year lunch and some of the nicest gossip of the year. I noticed the magazine's slogan – "Buy it before you snuff it", which does not have quite the same cheery ring as, say, "It's naughty but it's nice". I bumped into the great children's illustrator Shirley Hughes, who was chatting to the celebrated TV critic Philip Purser, whom she had met only once since they learned ballroom dancing together in Wirral, Merseyside, some 70 years ago.
There was Lord West, the former First Sea Lord (the head of the army told him he envied his splendid title. West replied: "Then you would be the First Land Lord.") The former terrorism minister arrived wearing the first bowler hat I've seen, on a head,...
Off to the Oldie of the Year lunch and some of the nicest gossip of the year. I noticed the magazine's slogan – "Buy it before you snuff it", which does not have quite the same cheery ring as, say, "It's naughty but it's nice". I bumped into the great children's illustrator Shirley Hughes, who was chatting to the celebrated TV critic Philip Purser, whom she had met only once since they learned ballroom dancing together in Wirral, Merseyside, some 70 years ago.
There was Lord West, the former First Sea Lord (the head of the army told him he envied his splendid title. West replied: "Then you would be the First Land Lord.") The former terrorism minister arrived wearing the first bowler hat I've seen, on a head,...
- 2/8/2012
- by Simon Hoggart, Ken Clarke
- The Guardian - Film News
Developers unlock £50 million for the Weavers' Triangle after government funding is guaranteed to improve connections to Manchester, London - and Hollywood
These are better days for Burnley which is digesting the long-awaited news that its direct rail link to Manchester is to be restored.
The issue of re-opening the Todmorden Curve, a brief but crucial stretch of rail track closed after Dr Beeching's axe in 1963, was previously highlighted in the Northerner, when Tony Blair's former press man Alastair Campbell – a well-known Clarets fan – spoke out in September about the trials of getting to Turf Moor.
The breakthrough has come with the new Regional Growth Fund announced by the deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, as pressure on the coalition to do more to help manufacturing mounts. The North West region's initial share includes the £8.8 million needed to reopen the curve and allow Burnley-Manchester trains to avoid a meander into Yorkshire...
These are better days for Burnley which is digesting the long-awaited news that its direct rail link to Manchester is to be restored.
The issue of re-opening the Todmorden Curve, a brief but crucial stretch of rail track closed after Dr Beeching's axe in 1963, was previously highlighted in the Northerner, when Tony Blair's former press man Alastair Campbell – a well-known Clarets fan – spoke out in September about the trials of getting to Turf Moor.
The breakthrough has come with the new Regional Growth Fund announced by the deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, as pressure on the coalition to do more to help manufacturing mounts. The North West region's initial share includes the £8.8 million needed to reopen the curve and allow Burnley-Manchester trains to avoid a meander into Yorkshire...
- 11/8/2011
- by Martin Wainwright
- The Guardian - Film News
As John le Carré might have written it – how things would have turned out if David Cameron had agreed to join the Kgb
✒It was startling to learn that David Cameron had been approached, in his youth, by Kgb officers who hoped to recruit him to the Soviet cause. Naturally he said no. But the opening this weekend of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy made me – and no doubt many other people – wonder how things might have turned out if he had agreed.
"Smiley sighed. He always found the smell of Templegate's Sobranie cigarettes irksome. 'It could go to the very top, sir,' Templegate said, 'the very top.' He brandished a manila file proudly like, reflected Smiley improbably, a hen laying an egg.
"'Bogerov told us in his debriefing. The code name is "Prophylactic". I don't know if that is a clue.'
"Smiley sighed again. Karla never left clues,...
✒It was startling to learn that David Cameron had been approached, in his youth, by Kgb officers who hoped to recruit him to the Soviet cause. Naturally he said no. But the opening this weekend of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy made me – and no doubt many other people – wonder how things might have turned out if he had agreed.
"Smiley sighed. He always found the smell of Templegate's Sobranie cigarettes irksome. 'It could go to the very top, sir,' Templegate said, 'the very top.' He brandished a manila file proudly like, reflected Smiley improbably, a hen laying an egg.
"'Bogerov told us in his debriefing. The code name is "Prophylactic". I don't know if that is a clue.'
"Smiley sighed again. Karla never left clues,...
- 9/16/2011
- by Simon Hoggart
- The Guardian - Film News
Long considered to be one of the greatest British stage actors of all time and arguably the finest Shakespearean actor of his generation, Sir Ian McKellen has received a Tony Award and two Academy Award nominations. Over the course of his distinguished career on the British stage, he has also received the prestigious Olivier Award five times, and in 1981 received the Tony Award for his portrayal of Mozart’s nemesis Salieri in the Broadway production of Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus. Although he is certainly not the first gay British subject to be knighted by his monarch, he is nonetheless the first to receive the honour after making a public acknowledgement of his homosexuality.
In 1988, McKellen took a brave personal step when he was being interviewed on BBC radio by conservative host Peregrine Worsthorne. While McKellen had quietly lived a gay life for many years, he
came out during the course...
In 1988, McKellen took a brave personal step when he was being interviewed on BBC radio by conservative host Peregrine Worsthorne. While McKellen had quietly lived a gay life for many years, he
came out during the course...
- 12/14/2010
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Daniel Craig rolled up his sleeves and dug through the trash at a recent dinner party - to help a fellow guest recover a missing hearing aid. British journalist Sir Peregrine Worsthorne had difficulty hearing after the device went missing at a gathering in London's Notting Hill - and he was stunned when the James Bond actor offered to help locate it.
But he didn't expect Craig to get down and dirty to find the aid.
Worsthorne writes in the New Statesman: "Daniel Craig, the great film star, took the lead in searching for it. Having looked in all the chairs and sofas, he turned in desperation to the dustbins, not hesitating to plunge his arms into the kitchen waste.
"When it transpired the hearing aid was not lost but hiding in my shirt, having fallen through the open collar, Craig managed to smile rather than scowl; and it was he who went to the off-licence when the booze ran out. A good sport."...
But he didn't expect Craig to get down and dirty to find the aid.
Worsthorne writes in the New Statesman: "Daniel Craig, the great film star, took the lead in searching for it. Having looked in all the chairs and sofas, he turned in desperation to the dustbins, not hesitating to plunge his arms into the kitchen waste.
"When it transpired the hearing aid was not lost but hiding in my shirt, having fallen through the open collar, Craig managed to smile rather than scowl; and it was he who went to the off-licence when the booze ran out. A good sport."...
- 2/5/2009
- WENN
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