Sir Ian McKellen is amazed he’s still starring as Gandalf in 2014.
The award-winning actor first played the iconic role in the ‘Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’ in 2001 and admits he never envisioned he’d be appearing as Gandalf 13 years later, in ‘The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies’.
Speaking at the London press conference of the Peter Jackson-directed film yesterday (02.12.14), Sir Ian reflected: "I said goodbye to Gandalf in 2000 when I left New Zealand [where the movie was filmed]. Well, here we are 2014, it goes on and on and on. And it has been the blessing of our professional lives, like all of the actors, we think we are so lucky.
"There’s nothing about luck in the making of the films, of course, that’s the planning, but the chance that we were selected."
Sir Ian, 75, also said he’s delighted the ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Hobbit’ films, based on the books by J. R. R Tolieken, have been embraced by so many children.
He reflected: "Some of our fans weren’t born in the last century when we started filming. Not born! Our work is part of their lives.
"To have been involved in films that are now classics is overwhelming."
Sir Ian McKellen amazed by Gandalf’s longevity
