Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen are some of the most famously regarded best friends in the entire entertainment industry. Not only have they known each other for more than four decades, but they have also co-starred in some of the most remarkable projects of all time, both in stage plays and in films for the big screens: like their best collab to date which was X-Men (2000), that had McKellen starring as Stewart’s character Professor X’s nemesis, Magneto.
Yet, while the pair mostly agree on everything, there was a moment before the Dune actor’s professional acting debut when the duo faced a conflict of opinions. This was about McKellen warning Stewart not to take on one iconic role that went on to define his career in Hollywood: that of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek franchise.
Patrick Stewart Proved Ian McKellen Wrong About His Career
In his new memoir Making It So, Patrick Stewart shared his close friend Ian McKellen‘s initial reaction when he told him about the offer he had gotten to play Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek franchise–which would have marked his professional entrance into the television world from stage plays.
“When I told him I was going to sign the contract, he almost bodily prevented me from doing so,” Stewart wrote. “‘No!’ he said. ‘No, you must not do that. You must not. You have too much important theater work to do. You can’t throw that away to do TV. You can’t. No!’”
He then went on to mention how McKellen is one of his most trustable friends. Yet, despite his insistence on turning down the role, he decided to go for it because he thought he might never get the chance again.
“There are few people, particularly with regard to acting, whose counsel I trust more than Ian’s, but this time I had to tell him that I felt theater would return to my life whenever I was ready for it, whereas an offer of the lead role in an American TV series might never come again,” Stewart said before adding, “Ian shook his head sadly as if I were enlisting in the army, but, nevertheless, wished me good luck and gave me a big hug.”
As it turned out, Stewart made the perfect decision to take on the role, because not only did it end up defining his entire career in Hollywood, but it also helped him work with his long-time best friend in the 2000s hit X-Men movie, after which the pair became even better friends than ever before despite playing on-screen enemies.
“In the years since, we have become dear pals and ‘X-Men’ colleagues, and Ian has acknowledged that he was wrong and I was right,” he wrote. “More than once, in fact – primarily because I like making him say those words.”
Patrick Stewart Is In Love With Ian McKellen
During another interview with Playboy, Patrick Stewart expressed how much he loves and appreciates Ian McKellen’s presence in his life.
“Gay men have played a part in my life as colleagues and friends, but none so significantly as Ian [McKellen]. I love him, and I’m in love with him. So is my wife, and it’s mutual.”
Continuing, he gushed on about how admirable McKellen is in his eyes.
“I listen to him, I watch what he does—and I don’t mean just acting. How he lives his life is so admirable, selfless, and compassionate. We also have a hell of a lot of fun.”
Now that’s the sign of a true friendship.
