Sir Ian McKellen discusses how Trevor Nunn’s set design seeks to preserve the original intention of Shakespeare, performing Shakespeare for the camera, the task of performing King Lear’s transformation from King into madman, the significance of Lear’s relationship with the gods, and how playing Lear, the “Everest” of Shakespeare, often is considered the summation of an actor’s career.
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14 Responses to “Interview with Sir Ian McKellen on playing King Lear”
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I love Ian Mckellen. My husband was the one whom had introduced me to this amazing actor. I love an actor who can disappear into any role,and you never see the actor at all. Ian Mckellen is the one who can do this best. I love him,and he is one of the finest actors in the world.
A listing of cast members would be ever so nice.
I have always liked Ian McKellen’s acting, but I’ve never really appreciated it fully until now–with his rendering of Lear. He’s brilliant–and it’s no wonder when I hear him discuss his understanding of the role. I can only imagine that between Trevor Nunn’s direction and Mckellen’s preparation it’s understandable how the rest of the cast has ascended the heights of this remarkable play.
[...] finns också en intervju med McKellen om rollen, plus en hel massa bakgrundsinformation om William Shakespeare och [...]
[...] miss the interview with Sir Ian himself, especially don’t miss MILK LIVERED [...]
I saw this with 2 sons in Stratford-truly an amazing performance- he gave so much energy and clarity to Lear,I could not believe he performed it nightly! what a play,what performances.My 21 and 23 yr old sons were ‘well impressed’
This production of King Lear is amazing! I read the play this year in my AP English class, and Ian McKellen and the rest of the cast do an exquisite job of accurately portraying this masterpiece. This is a treasure for all Shakespeare lovers and students.
Just saw King Lear on DVD…magnificent, mesmerizing, amazing performance by Ian Mckellan. I cannot comprehend the brilliance of his performance, it’s that good! I followed by pulling out my Shakespeare…I would read the scene first and then watch the performance. Hail to the King (McKellan)and hail to Mr. Shakespeare. When one understands and absorbs the words….unreal and awesome! No wonder he will go on forever.
The cast list is available at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1175295/
I have seen almost every stage performance by Ian McKellen since 1983 and have several favorites, probably Wild Honey on stage and Cold Comfort Farm on film. His comedic talents are sublime. But seeing him as King Lear on stage at Stratford was mesmerizing. I was thrilled when I saw the PBS listing and could relive the experience.
Ian McKellen has always been my favorite actor, his range is brilliant. I agree with Ivy M., I love Ian McKellen.
There are 4 roles that are critical to Lear. Lear is one play without minor parts. You need to have Lear, but he’s easy one. Ideally for the sake of cruelty one actor could play both the fool and Edmund. That would difficult to pull off. You need two actors equal to the actor playing Lear: they must have the knowledge of the gods. They must be fully perfect in their reasoned thought. And then one of the pinnacles of Shakespeare (along with Halmet; Falstaff, Angelo, and Bottom, Iago among others) is EDgar. He is the central character of the piece. he has 500- 600 lines less than Lear and as many transformations as Hamlet. And they are all on the stage; they must be believable. If Edmund death bed conversion is difficult, a convincing Edgar seems impossible, the toughest role in the whole of Shakespeare
A very nice interview. I think he does get to the heart of the part. His rendition to me now defines the role. But I will have to say, with all due respect, he misunderstands the meaning of the ending. Lear transcends with the final vision of Cordelia’s moving lips. Ultimately the play ends with heavenly justice. Nonetheless, I have a lot of affection for McKellan. He seems really humble for a great actor.
I adore McKellan, and Sylvester McCoy is a joy as his Fool. One thing I dislike about Sir Ian’s technique is the delivery of soliloquies to the camera. The dislike extends even so far as the stage–I do not like, as an audience member, to be addressed in a drama. Soliloquies are essentially staged thoughts. Do you share every thought on the nature of bastardy and inheritance with an unseen person on the other side of a lens or footlight?
So when a character speaks directly to me, I forget he’s a character. I see an actor on stage, narrating lines. Ian has done this all of his career: his Macbeth is full of it. So while his characterisation is exquisite, I cannot immerse myself in his performances like I would like to.
And benedictus, you’re right. Edgar is immensely complex and serves as a foil for so many characters: Edmund, Cordelia, Fool, even Lear. TO play him with nuance is an immense challenge. It’s one I would like to tackle one day, though.
One time I tried to look at the bright side…then I went blind….
One time I tried to play tetris…I got a circle
One time I stared at a girl in the eyes…it was medusa