Sir Ian McKellen Says Fat Suit Saved Him From Worse Injuries During West End Fall
Sir Ian McKellen has opened up about a stage accident that left him with serious injuries, revealing that a fat suit he wore during the performance likely saved him from even worse damage.
The 85-year-old actor was performing in Player Kings at London's Noel Coward Theatre in June when he lost his footing during a fight scene. The fall, which happened during a battle scene, left McKellen with a fractured wrist and chipped vertebrae.
McKellen reflects on incident in interview
In an interview with Saga magazine, McKellen described the incident as "horrible," saying, "My foot got caught in a chair, and trying to shake it off, I started to slide on some newspaper that was scattered over the stage, like I was on a skateboard."
The actor recalled that as he slid uncontrollably down the stage, he ended up in the lap of an audience member in the front row.
“I started screaming, ‘Help me!’ and then ‘I’m sorry! I don’t do this!’ It was very upsetting."
Despite the severity of his injuries, McKellen believes the fat suit he wore to play the famously portly Shakespearean character Falstaff softened the impact of his fall.
"I was wearing a fat suit for Falstaff and that saved my ribs and other joints," he said, adding that without it, his injuries could have been far worse.
McKellen pulls out of tour of Player Kings due to injuries
The injuries have forced McKellen to pull out of the national tour of Player Kings, a decision that has left him feeling guilty about letting down the production.
"I don’t feel guilty, but the accident has let down the whole production," he admitted. "I was hoping to be able to rejoin the play on the tour, but I couldn’t."
The actor, known globally for his roles as Magneto in the X-Men series and Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, has been recovering at home with the help of friends and neighbours. However, he confessed that the experience has made him nervous about going out, fearing someone might accidentally bump into him and worsen his injuries.
"I don’t go out because I get nervous in case someone bangs into me, and I’ve got agonising pains in my shoulders to do with my whole frame having been jolted," he shared.
Reflecting on the incident, McKellen said he has had to reassure himself that the fall was just a "bloody accident" and not a sign that he is too old to continue acting.
Despite the setback, there are already discussions about revisiting the play in the future, although McKellen is cautious, saying, "there are suggestions we’ll do [the play] again, but we’ll see."
For now, McKellen is focused on healing and staying positive, even joking that what he misses most during his recovery is the pub quiz at The Grapes, the east London pub he co-owns.
As he continues to mend, the actor remains in good spirits, supported by friends and the hope of returning to the stage once more.
