the donostia award

You may know him as Gandalf.
But that's only because you're not a sophisticated English theatregoer.

This week, Sir Ian McKellen will take his place in a line of very distinguished actors when he receives the Donostia award at Zinemaldia. Woody Allen, Meryl Streep, Al Pacino...the list of previous winners is endlessly illustrious. The last English actor to receive the award was Bob Hoskins, in 2002.

McKellen's acting credits are heavily weighted with Shakespearean theatre roles. He began his theatre career at Cambridge as a bright young thing. He is an actor's actor, with a distinguished film career that snuck its way between over 250 staged plays. Patrick Stewart, a fellow UK citizen and X-Men costar, has said, "I remember seeing him as Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing and thinking he was dazzling. I was still struggling along with small parts and understudying when Ian was establishing himself as a leading man."

Sir McKellen has also used his position of influence to lobby for gay rights. In a typically modest, knightly manner, he says, " I just happen to have a public profile which gives my views more importance than they deserve."




Le conoces a él como Gandalf.
Pero eso es porque no eres un espectador de teatro sofisticado.

Esta semana, Sir Ian McKellen tomará su lugar en el salón de la fama de actores muy distinguidos cuando recibe el premio donostia. Woody Allen, Meryl Streep, Al Pacino...la lista de ganadores anteriores es infinitamente ilustre. El último actor inglesa que recibió el premio fue Bob Hoskins (2002).

La historia de su carrera está llena de papeles de teatro Shakespeare. Empezó la carrera en Cambridge como joven brillante. Es actor de actores, con una carrera de cine muy distinguida casi escondida entre las 250 obras de teatro. Patrick Stewart, un compatriota de Inglaterra y coprotagonista de X-Men, ha dicho, "Recuerdo verle como Claudio en Mucho ruido y pocas nueces y pensando que era brillante. Ya estaba yo luchando con papeles pequeños y suplentes cuando Ian se estableció como protagonista."

Sir McKellen aprovecha de su posición para ejercer influencia para derechos gays. En su estilo típico y modesto, dice, "Da la casualidad que tengo un perfil muy público lo cual da más valor a mis opinions que merecen."