The cherished actor has announced he's "taking a bit of a rest" before stepping back into the spotlight.
Sir Ian McKellen recently shared that he is “physically mended” after his hospitalization on June 17, which occurred following a fall off the stage during a performance in London.
The 85-year-old actor was in the middle of a live performance of "Player Kings", an adaptation of "Henry IV", at the Noël Coward Theatre when he reportedly lost his balance amid a fight scene, resulting in a chipped vertebra and a fractured wrist.
While McKellen assured Sky News that he is now "mobile, pain-free, and ready to return," he confessed he is still navigating the emotional repercussions of the incident.
"I felt embarrassed, like I had failed the audience. There was a lot of guilt," McKellen admitted.
Although McKellen initially stated he wouldn't be returning to "Player Kings", he revealed to Sky News his decision to take "a bit of a rest" before resuming his professional commitments. He added, "I’m mindful that there isn't an abundance of time left, so I’m giving myself three months off rather than six—I don’t need the full six months."
The actor also previously revealed, “I tend to stay indoors these days because I'm anxious someone might accidentally jostle me, and the severe pain in my shoulders from the impact has been challenging to cope with.”
He mentioned that his costume may have played a role in preventing more severe injuries, noting, “The padded suit I wore as [my "Player Kings" character, Sir John] Falstaff saved my ribs and other joints, so I feel fortunate."
Though he is currently on a hiatus, McKellen — renowned for his iconic roles as Magneto in the "X-Men" franchise and Gandalf in the "Lord of the Rings" series — continues to promote his latest film, "The Critic". He also expressed that he frequently has to discuss his injury in interviews.
"There was such a commotion in the media; it was as if I had passed away and was reading my own obituaries!” he told Sky News. “I must admit, some were rather flattering, but the situation wasn’t nearly as dire as it seemed."
The Quran - Chapter Al-Haqqah : 23 - 25
whose fruit will hang within reach.
˹They will be told,˺ “Eat and drink joyfully for what you did in the days gone by.”
And as for those given their record in their left hand, they will cry ˹bitterly˺, “I wish I had not been given my record,
