Did Ian McKellen accidentally out a fellow “Hobbit” actor?
By Matthew · 28 comments· Updated on January 29, 2024
Ian McKellen (Photo: Shutterstock)
Remember that press junket for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in 2012 when Ian McKellen may have accidentally outed a fellow cast member? Whoops!
The subtle slip came during an interview with a German website. During the interview, they asked several questions regarding McKellan’s sexuality and the difference in being an out actor when the first Lord of the Rings film was released and now.
McKellan reflected on the question by comparing the number of gay actors in each film as a sign of the times. In 2001, he was the only gay actor in the film franchise. Today, is among many in The Hobbit.
The following excerpt has been translated via Google translate:
Brash: Still, there is hardly colleagues who follow your example, right?
Ian McKellen: I would say that has been done in this regard in the last ten years in the industry a lot. Just look only how many openly gay actors in the “Hobbit” with were: two of the dwarves, to Luke Evans, Stephen Fry, Lee Pace. In “The Lord of the Rings” I was the only one next to it there was my make-up artist and one from the wardrobe team. That’s only once a progress, right?
Ian McKellan during a Brash.de interview
Two of the dwarves? That’s strange, because only one of the 13 actors who play dwarves in this film is openly gay. According to a Lord of the Rings wiki, on-again, off-again gay Luke Evans plays a “man,” Stephen Fry a “human,” and not really out Lee Pace an “elf.” The only openly gay actor playing a “dwarf” is Adam Brown.
So, who is the second gay dwarf that has gone unnamed? Which of the dwarves are drowning in gay rumors?
Could it be Richard Armitage? The English actor has long been the subject of gay rumors and has even been loosely linked with costar Lee Pace.
Maybe Graham McTavish? The Scottish actor has also been loosely (like, very loosely) linked with Richard Armitage.
Perhaps it’s Dean O’Gorman? This Kiwi actor played gay once. Although there’s no evidence suggesting he’s a hardcore ‘mo, we wouldn’t mind adding him to our roster.
Who do you think it is? Let us know in the comments below!
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how do you out someone who came out years ago in an Advocate article…oh yeah- he slithered back into the closet once the movie roles started getting bigger- dating women and the works! Luke Evans is a douchebag!
I love seeing Stephen Fry in THE HOBBIT. His character is laughable, but Frye plays it straight ahead and makes him all the more laughable on a real level and a humorous one. Lee Pace and Luke Evans gay?… that would be awesome. Pace is an impressive actor (I own THE FALL on Blu-ray and the massive scale picture book) and both men are splendid to look at.
What I find most interesting is that in 2012, there was still a confirmation that Luke “I declare my love for being openly gay, then climb back into the closet” Evans was also confirmed gay bu McKellen
Mckellen rocks. I totally agree with you. My favorite role, however, isn’t Gandalf or Magneto but James Whale in the movie Gods and Monsters. I know he was nominated that year but didn’t win. He should have won for that one.
I’m starting to hate this site. It seems like every other story is about outing someone. If someone is not out, is it not their business? Jeez, I mean, there are more pressing issues in our community. Or the world for that matter.
I can see being closeted if you’re in a country that criminalizes being a gay human being, but in 2013 if you’re from a country where you can get married as a gay person to another gay person then being in the closet after age 25 is damn absurd and don’t expect others to play along with keeping the closet doors shut.
There are still few colleagues that follow your example though?
Ian McKellen: I would say that a lot has happened in the past ten years in this industry. Look at how many openly gay actors are part of The Hobbit: two of the dwarves, plus Luke Evans, Stephen Fry, Lee Pace. In The Lord Of The Rings was I still the only one, then there was my make-up artist and one person from the wardrobe department. That’s progress, right?
But Lee Pace isn’t Gay; he is thought to be bisexual & until it comes from his mouth it is a ‘word of mouth’ type thing.
Luke Evans confirmed himself gay saying that everyone knew but he also currently dates a woman, saying “He just fell for her/it just happened”
PS: Richard Armitage is straight so rule that out, close friends/ exes(Annabelle capper who is still inlove with RA)/ family have confirmed this- RA has even described as some of his happiest moments is when him & her lived together.
Men can have BFF’s that are also men (Lee Pace/RA)
Until they come out themselves, it’s not really anyone’s business.
Most of you are right about Richard Armatage,he is not gay at all.I grew up not far from him.We went to the same school.He was mostly into drama sports and girls,from what I remember.Of course I had a crush on him,and he didn’t know I existed,I don’t think.He went on to perdue his dreams and I went on to specialize in the medicine.I must say he filled out quite well.in school he was rather tall and thin.So I’m trying to say,don’t listen to these bullshit rumers That man is defiantly not gay..
@Anna Renee: The man is 44 years old. You once knew him at school and had a crush on him and sound like you still do. How exactly does that make you more qualified to know him – now – as an adult man who has had many years to be gay, straight, bi or unlabelled, than say, Ian McKellen, who knows and works with him?
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magimack
Native speaker here. I can confirm it’s not a technical error, you got it right. Two gay dwarves.
mrsbuela
Two Gay Dwarves????
How Exciting!
Sorta like Battlestar Galactica – trying to figure out the Final 5 Cylons!
RandallSM
Oh, I know! It was Nunya F. Bidness.
the other Greg
On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me, two gay dwarves and a partridge in a pear tree.
mydude
It’s probably Armitage that McKellan is referring to.
LAman
@mydude: Yes, I concur
Andrew
Did he also out Lee Pace? I can’t find anything where he officially comes out – just a lot of questions and rumours.
dougmc92
how do you out someone who came out years ago in an Advocate article…oh yeah- he slithered back into the closet once the movie roles started getting bigger- dating women and the works! Luke Evans is a douchebag!
Pistolo
If he meant anyone, I’d be willing to bet it was LEE PACE.
SteveDenver
I love seeing Stephen Fry in THE HOBBIT. His character is laughable, but Frye plays it straight ahead and makes him all the more laughable on a real level and a humorous one. Lee Pace and Luke Evans gay?… that would be awesome. Pace is an impressive actor (I own THE FALL on Blu-ray and the massive scale picture book) and both men are splendid to look at.
charwegl
Fluent in German. He definitely says there are two. Could be any of the 13 now or the ones from the last trilogy. He didn’t really specify.
Black Pegasus
Ian McKellen is one of my favorite actors. He can do no wrong in my eyes.
Eat Cake.
balehead
Why isn’t he “accidently” outing ugly actors?….Arthur Laurents was right about bitter queens…
Niall
What I find most interesting is that in 2012, there was still a confirmation that Luke “I declare my love for being openly gay, then climb back into the closet” Evans was also confirmed gay bu McKellen
ppp111
@Black Pegasus:
Mckellen rocks. I totally agree with you. My favorite role, however, isn’t Gandalf or Magneto but James Whale in the movie Gods and Monsters. I know he was nominated that year but didn’t win. He should have won for that one.
Cam
@balehead:
And once again Bale finds anything he possibly can to attack gays. Again, your agenda is sadly obvious.
jasentylar
I’m starting to hate this site. It seems like every other story is about outing someone. If someone is not out, is it not their business? Jeez, I mean, there are more pressing issues in our community. Or the world for that matter.
KimChick
Dean O’Gorman has a girlfriend.
Daniel-Reader
I can see being closeted if you’re in a country that criminalizes being a gay human being, but in 2013 if you’re from a country where you can get married as a gay person to another gay person then being in the closet after age 25 is damn absurd and don’t expect others to play along with keeping the closet doors shut.
Daniel-Reader
And now that it’s 2014 and each year that passes and each nation that advances… it becomes all the more absurd.
TomMc
@balehead: Ain’t the appellation “Hobbit” indicative of an implicit ‘ugliness’?
balehead
Too much jealous on this site once again….
balehead
Mckellum is getting senile maybe???….
katiemay
Translation by native speaker:
There are still few colleagues that follow your example though?
Ian McKellen: I would say that a lot has happened in the past ten years in this industry. Look at how many openly gay actors are part of The Hobbit: two of the dwarves, plus Luke Evans, Stephen Fry, Lee Pace. In The Lord Of The Rings was I still the only one, then there was my make-up artist and one person from the wardrobe department. That’s progress, right?
So yes, it’s two dwarves from the Hobbit movies.
chasind
But Lee Pace isn’t Gay; he is thought to be bisexual & until it comes from his mouth it is a ‘word of mouth’ type thing.
Luke Evans confirmed himself gay saying that everyone knew but he also currently dates a woman, saying “He just fell for her/it just happened”
PS: Richard Armitage is straight so rule that out, close friends/ exes(Annabelle capper who is still inlove with RA)/ family have confirmed this- RA has even described as some of his happiest moments is when him & her lived together.
Men can have BFF’s that are also men (Lee Pace/RA)
Until they come out themselves, it’s not really anyone’s business.
Taurnil
Well Graham McTavish is married so I’m going to say “no” on that one.
I’d love Dean O’Gorman to be gay but at the end of the day I have too much respect for him to go digging around! XD
Anna Renee
Most of you are right about Richard Armatage,he is not gay at all.I grew up not far from him.We went to the same school.He was mostly into drama sports and girls,from what I remember.Of course I had a crush on him,and he didn’t know I existed,I don’t think.He went on to perdue his dreams and I went on to specialize in the medicine.I must say he filled out quite well.in school he was rather tall and thin.So I’m trying to say,don’t listen to these bullshit rumers That man is defiantly not gay..
QueertyQ
@Anna Renee: The man is 44 years old. You once knew him at school and had a crush on him and sound like you still do. How exactly does that make you more qualified to know him – now – as an adult man who has had many years to be gay, straight, bi or unlabelled, than say, Ian McKellen, who knows and works with him?
Gay does not = ‘bullshit rumours’ btw.