Biography Magazine
May 2003

CURRENT ROLE In X2, the sequel to X-Men, teams up with his nemesis, idealistic Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart), to battle the man who would destroy their race.

PROMINENT PARTS Received his first Oscar nod for Gods and Monsters ('98) as dying Frankenstein director James Whale, whose final project is a unique friendship with yard man Brendan Fraser. But most often plays villains: womanizing cabinet minister John Profumo in Scandal ('89); Shakespeare's ruthless Richard III ('95), re-set in a Fascist England; and an ex-Nazi tutoring an American teen, who proves to be an Apt Pupil ('98). "In reality, I'm placid," he insists. "In my work I'm allowed to be wild and behave in the most dreadful way."

BEGINNINGS Born May 25,1939, in northern England, to a civil engineer and a homemaker. Growing up, he and his family escaped the stress of wartime with regular visits to the theater. By 7, he was staging Shakespeare on his own toy theater. As an English major at Cambridge, he shirked academics for acting (performing in an astonishing 21 shows in four years). Made his pro stage debut at 22 in A Man for All Seasons; a few years later, Olivier himself invited him to join the National Theatre Company. First major screen role: censored novelist D.H. Lawrence in Priest of Love ('81).

OUT AND ABOUT The openly gay actor went public at age 49 on a British radio talk show. He recently served as co-grand marshal of San Francisco's Pride Parade.

NEXT UP Works his magic once again as Gandalf in The Return of the King, LOTRs third and final leg, due this December.

LORD OF THE WEB Catalogues his career and answers fans' questions at his Web site, www.mckellen.com. "I imagine one day I'll be dying and say to the doctor, 'I just need to post this e- mail, to let fans know I'm dying!"'

BY MIRANDA SPENCER