From emails sent to webmaster@mckellen.com

Not True

Rumour, 7 November 2003: "The Daily Mail (in their Wicked Whispers column) report that 'Ian McKellen infuriated fellow thesp Orlando Bloom at Tuesday night's British Independent Film Awards when he said he'd turned up in the hope of a snog from his fellow Lord of the Rings star.  A furious Bloom retorted afterwards: "I'm not gay. I've got a girlfriend." ' This is untrue isn't it?"

Fact: On 5 November at the British Independent Film Awards, the Variety UK Personality of the Year Award was presented to Ian McKellen at Hammersmith Palais by Orlando Bloom. They sat at the same table and caught up on each other’s news.

Bloom gave a charming speech to which McKellen replied. His self-deprecating remarks began: “I’m not quite sure why I have been honoured in this way but perhaps the organisers realised that I would go anywhere for a free drink and a chance to kiss Orlando!” Much laughter and no complaints from Bloom, who accepted the joke as a compliment. Indeed, next day he called to thank McKellen for inviting him to the Awards and said how much he was looking forward to meeting up again at the world premiere of Lord of the Rings: Return of the King on 1 December in New Zealand.

Rumour, 24 August 2003: "The BBC recently reported that you were born in Salford.  Your website says you were born in Burnley.  Well?"

Fact: "Salford is adjacent to Manchester and is the birthplace of Albert Finney. I have never lived there!  I was born in Burnley, then lived in Wigan (1939-52) and Bolton (1952-58) -- all, like Manchester and Salford, in the County of Lancashire, in northwest England."  -- Ian McKellen, 25 August 2003

Rumour, 2 August 2003: "There is a trailer floating around stating that Peter Jackson is directing THE HOBBIT, which is to star Ian Holm, Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis and will be opening in December of 2006. Is there any truth to this rumor?"

Fact: "This rumour is wishful thinking perhaps encouraged by my oft-expressed notion that PJ should at least oversee a screen adaptation of The Hobbit, whose rights are currently held by New Line Cinema and MGM/UA. I think it would make a stunning long-running television serial, including a great deal more plot detail than is advisable in even a 9-hour trilogy."  -- Ian McKellen, 3 August 2003

Rumour, 4 July 2003: There are rumors that Sir Ian was to have played Adama in the cancelled Singer/DeSanto TV movie of "Battlestar Galactica." Is there any basis in fact to these rumors?

Fact: "I scarcely knew about "BG" until it was cancelled and still know little about it. Any Singer/DeSanto project gets my interest." -- Ian McKellen, 3 August 2003

Rumour, 13 July 2003: "I was reading on a British theatre website that Ian McKellen and Alan Rickman would be starring in the Royal Shakespeare Co.'s Summer Season 2003. Is this true?"

Fact: "It is true that I have recently talked to Michael Boyd, the new Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, about his plans for Stratford-upon-Avon, where the RSC has its home base. I hope it mightn't be too long before I return to the RSC, where I enjoyed working so much when Trevor Nunn was in charge, but I have no plans to be back there this year. I cannot answer for Alan Rickman, although I hear Judi Dench will be."  -- Ian McKellen, 22 July 2003

Rumour, 12 April 2003: "i heard that Ian and Christoper (saruman) got in to a fight in public, in london and almost killed each other. plz tell me this isnt true"

Fact: "Wherever The Fellowship of the Ring is screened, Gandalf and Saruman fight. Elsewhere Christopher Lee and I are best of pacific friends." -- Ian McKellen, 14 April 2003

Rumour, 12 December 2002: "Hi, there's a rumor going around at my work that Sir Ian McKellen has recently died. Is this true? I certainly hope not."

Fact: Ian McKellen is alive and well.  This rumour seemed to start circulating after the death of Richard Harris, who played the wizard "Dumbledore" in the Harry Potter movies, on 25 October 2002 at the age of 72.

Rumour, 14 November 2002: "There's a rumour on the Net that Sir Ian is going to play Professor Dumbledore in the next Harry Potter movie, following the sad passing of Richard Harris. Is this true? It would be wonderful if it IS true, but I know how easily these rumours start, so I'm not getting too excited yet! Perhaps you could just let me know "officially"? (Maybe he doesn't want to be typecast as an elderly man with a flowing white beard!) Thanks."

Fact: Ian McKellen has NOT agreed to succeed the late Richard Harris in the role of Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movies.  He has expressed interest in perhaps playing a different role some time in the future of the series.

And further:

Rumour, 9 January 2003: "i know that on this site it confirms that sir ian will not be playing dumbledore in the forthcoming harry potter films, but on imdb.com there is a later dated article claiming that he has been confirmed in the role. i'm sure you're tired of these questions by now but i would appreciate a confirmation or otherwise and i'm sure me and many other fans of the harry potter films and ian mckellen would appreciate this information being changed on imdb.com, a usually reliable site, now has him in the cast list for the next HP film, and possibly you would be the right person to make this request to them. many thanks for any information or help. "

========================================================

11 January 2003

Dear concerned mailer,

I have not been offered Dumbledore but another knight is considering it.

Best wishes

From the actor who plays Gandalf for God’s sake,

Ian McKellen

==========================================================

[Webmaster's Note: Warner Bros has announced the role of Professor Dumbledore will be played by Michael Gambon in upcoming HARRY POTTER films.]

Rumour, 6 December 2002: "I recently, as in two hours ago, heard from my friend that she heard on the radio that Ian McKellen got married. I am Ian's number one fan, trust me, I am, and this news came as quite a shock (and a wonderful surprise). I was searching the internet trying to verify the news, and all I could find was an article saying that Ian and Nick were going to get married, but were not married yet, obviously. If you have any answers for me as to whether they are going to get married or are married, I would greatly appreciate an email back. The suspense is really killing me."

Fact: Ian McKellen has no plans to get married. Do not believe everything (or perhaps anything) you read in "The Globe," the US tabloid that spread this rumour.

Rumour, 6 December 2002: "My mother recently told me that she'd heard you on an interview while you were in Canada...i think it was B.C. or something. I've also heard rumours that u like it here so much you're thinking of moving here? Is that true, cuz that would be pretty cool, we have a serious lacking in recognizable actors here, they all seem to move OUT of the country!"

Fact: Ian McKellen has spent a lot of time in Canada recently, filming X-Men and Emile.  London is still his home, and he has no plans to live permanently in Canada.

Rumor, 22 October 2002: "I have heard a rumor that Ian McKellen is going to be in a new film with John Malkovich in 2003 called Borgia, is this true?"

Fact: Ian McKellen has no plans to be involved in the project.

Rumour, 13 August 2002: "I  heard on the news that you are allergic to wheat gluten, and have started your own Gluten Free food line. Is this true?!"

Fact: Sir Ian is NOT allergic to wheat and does not have any plans for a line of food.

True

Rumour, 28 November 2002: "I just heard from a reader of Variety that "Dance of Death" transfers to the Lyric Theatre London next March. Is that true?? Would be terrific to see you on stage again. It has been such a long time. And is it really Frances de la Tour?? (She was great in The Play About the Baby) "

Fact: Dance of Death starring Ian McKellen and Frances de la Tour,  is now playing at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London.

Rumour, 11 January 2003: "I recently bought the FotR Extended DVD, and while I was listening to the Audio Commentary, Sir Ian states that he's a homosexual. I'm pretty sure he was joking, but because you can't see his face and he doesn't laugh or anything I thought I might as well ask."

Fact: As you will see throughout this website (Writings, E-Posts, Activism etc.), Sir Ian is not just openly gay, but also an activist for gay civil rights. 

Just a Rumour

Rumour, July 2003: "Is it true that The Pope is a woman - i mean what a bitch! and look at her frocks! do u think it matters what His Holiness thinks says or prays about? I mean look at the guys who elected him! Wouldn't you like to play a pope? Serena the First in white satin."

Reply: "It is difficult to work out the Vatican's motives for wording this latest outburst so savagely. Are they genuinely scared of us gays like they used to be of the godless Communists? They certainly scare me. The cardinalia are spoiling for a fight which they believe they can win. As a non-believer I haven't been over-impressed by the Christian declarations from The White House and Number Ten and I preferred it when Pope John was opposing the invasion of Iraq.

"At the very highest levels of the Vatican Papal circle I am told by an impeccably placed third party, a cardinal has regular sex with a lay employee in the Papal city. There are apparently lengthy gaps between sex for the cardinal to re-confess and clear his conscience. Celibacy must be a taxing state of mind. A man who hides his true nature behind the purple doesn't respect himself. He can love his neighbour only as much as he loves himself and that's little. Even if it's just a rumour, it's a major example of hypocrisy and of homophobia - a condition which affects gays as much as anybody else.

"I think a female pope would be fun. How can anyone take for the gospel, the views of such a male enclave? The UK military were just as bad about admitting gays, who have now been uneventfully welcomed into the ranks. Along with the US High Command, the Pope's contempt for gay people and their passions must be the last harrumph of the uncertain male, the action of a bully. I watch this latest episode of international aggression, appalled at how cruel men can be.