Ian McKellen's gay regret

10 months ago 22nd Dec 06:00

Sir Ian McKellen wishes he had revealed he was gay earlier.

The openly homosexual actor - who came out on live radio in 1988 when he was 49 years old - regrets spending nearly half a century being dishonest about his sexuality.

I know better than the people who are telling me I'm wrong

He said: "You don't like yourself. It rots you."

However, the 'Lord of the Rings' star thinks his illustrious career might have been different had he been open about his sexual preferences from an early age.

He said: "I couldn't spend my life being in gay plays."

The 69-year-old actor told the world he was gay during a BBC Radio 4 debate with broadcaster Peregrine Worsthorne about Section 28 legislation. The act banned the promotion of homosexuality in British schools.

Ian still maintains he was right to argue his point during the radio show.