Return of the King
27
December 2003
Sydney
Unfortunately, we only have thumbnails of these!
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Gandalf Greets Sydney Fans
December 29, 2003 Acclaimed Lord of the Rings actor Sir Ian McKellen stepped out of Middle Earth into Sydney on Sunday, to the cheers of elated fans of the cult film trilogy. Missing his character Gandalf's signature long white beard, the screen wizard still worked his magic among hundreds of young admirers. The crowd, who gathered at the George Street cinemas in Sydney to watch the final instalment of the epic Tolkien tale, clapped wildly as he revealed a tattoo of the number nine on his right arm, indicating each "member of the fellowship". The seasoned actor - on his third visit to Australia for the Sydney Festival - said he volunteered for the appearance, because none of the cast attended the Australian opening. "I thought it was only fair that at least one of us should come to Australia," the 64-year-old Englishman said. Living in New Zealand to shoot the film had taught him not to confuse the two countries, McKellen said. He said when he was approached for the film, he thought: "If all else fails, a year in New Zealand will be a wonderful opportunity to visit Australia." "I've never worked here, I've scarcely been to Australia." He said the special thing about making the movie was the reaction it received from audiences around the world. But he also credited "doing it (the movie) with a wonderful group of people who welcomed us into their country as if we were part of the family." "Sometimes it felt as though you were making a home movie." And while he had not read the book, McKellen said he took the role because "it was a wonderful part". "I thought it was a movie I would want to see." The first film in the trilogy was his favourite, he said. "Just really selfishly, because I preferred playing Gandalf the Grey to Gandalf the White. He's got a little bit more variety in him." Meanwhile, excited fans said seeing the actor brought the fantasy to life. "It's pretty amazing when one of your favourite actors is walking three metres away from you," Laurent Favie, 18, said. "I've never seen a movie with such a big impact," Michelle, 25, from Kirrawee in Sydney's southern suburbs said. A die-hard fan, she said McKellen's autograph and picture would be kept with her special edition Gollum statue. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King opened in Australian cinemas on December 26. AAP |
Gandalf's magic show By Sophie Tedmanson 29dec03 WITH his leather pants, hippy-style T-shirt and purple dice beads, Ian McKellen looked anything but Gandalf-like at an appearance in Sydney yesterday. But that didn't matter to the hundreds of Lord Of The Rings fans who had gathered to see the man they are more used to seeing on the big screen as the white-bearded good wizard in Peter Jackson's epic movie trilogy based on the J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy novels. The highly acclaimed English actor is in Australia to star in the play Dance Of Death as part of the Sydney Festival, but decided to pop in and introduce a screening of The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King. Hundreds of fans had gathered outside to see the 64-year-old, while 410 more waited anxiously inside the cinema. "Is it him? Is it him?" squealed one girl, standing on her toes to see over the crowd. "Yep, it's Gandalf," confirmed her friend as Sir Ian strode past, shaking hands and happily posing for photographs on his way into the screening. He entered the cinema to rousing applause from the moviegoers, many of whom had bought tickets just to see McKellen in the flesh. German student Katrin Blaschke saw The Return Of The King on Saturday but went last night to see McKellen. "I like his character - he's not only a wizard, he's a wise man, and he's a leading figure in the fellowship of the ring," she said. During his 10-minute talk, McKellen answered questions and showed off a tattoo of the number nine in Elvish on his right bicep, a permanent reminder of the tight bond formed by the principal cast of the trilogy, who all have the same tattoo. "There was a wonderful atmosphere of friendship," he said. "It was just like we were all making a home movie with Peter Jackson and his family and friends." McKellen said he was still amazed at the public reaction to the movies, including Return Of The King, which broke Australian box office records with its $5.268 million opening on Boxing Day. He encouraged fans to go to his play, saying: "See what else I get up to, apart from wearing a long beard and doing a bit of magic."
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