Ian McKellen Photo Galleries

1961-1965

Portrait taken at agents suggestion by her approved photographer, Hordyk, in his London studio
Hordyk

Portrait taken at agents suggestion by her approved photographer, Hordyk, in his London studio
Hordyk

June — These were my first portraits, which Corin Redgrave, my fellow-undergraduate actor at Cambridge, persuaded me I should need as a professional actor. He took me to his fathers photographer in Knightsbridge, London. I was powdered and brushed and posed in front of an old-fashioned plate camera - and these two stilted shots were the result. I ordered 50 of each and used them to send to prospective employers and to the occasional fan.
Paul Tanqueray

Barry Griffiths, on the technical staff at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, took portraits of the company for use in the programme.

Portrait
Crispian Woodgate

Barry Griffiths, on the technical staff at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, took portraits of the company for use in the programme.
Barry Griffiths

Portrait, June 1961
Tanqueray

Nottingham Fete (Ian McKellen, crowned, in rear)

Portrait
Crispian Woodgate

Portrait, June 1961
Tanqueray

Roger Mutton, John D Collins, and Ian McKellen with a fan in Nottingham

Elizabeth Proud and Ian McKellen (Publicity Shot)
THE COUNTRY WIFE

"

L to R: Sheila Keith, Gillian Martell, Ian McKellen, Georgine Anderson.

I have since seen a number of prestigious productions but these were the best trio of wives who discover they are not legally wed.
WHEN WE ARE MARRIED

" "

L to R: Allan Jeayes, John Scarborough, Bridget Turner, Ian McKellen, Sheila Keith, Ronald Magill.

The regular company was joined by Allan Jeayes (Walter, the waiter), a distinguished veteran from Alexander Korda’s romantic British films. Being nearly 80, he had trouble remembering his lines, although in this scene he singlehandedly served a four-course meal in under 15 minutes!
YOU NEVER CAN TELL

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L to R: Bridget Turner, John Scarborough, Ian McKellen, Kristine Howarth.

I played the ancient butler (Tredwell) with hesitant gait and powdered hair.
BLACK COFFEE

"

My new friends who introduced me to the friendship of the professional theatre.
The Belgrade Theatre Company, L to R: Derek Newark, Brian Bell (Producer), Bernard Kilby, Robert Gillespie, Sheila Keith, Bridget Turner, Ian McKellen, John Scarborough, Kristine Howarth, Peter French, Ronald Magill
Midnight Matinee

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L to R: Bridget Turner, Miranda Marshall, Hazel Coppen, Derek Newark, Jennie Lynne, Peter French, Ronald Magill, Gillian Martell, Robert Gillespie, Ian McKellen.

Another chance for the regular company to show its versatility — my own contribution was as a Teddy-Boy in tight jeans and leather jacket restoring my native Lancashire accent which Cambridge University had tempered with received pronunciation.
CELEBRATION

"

L to R: Richard Aylen, John Bryans, Ian McKellen, Mark Eden

End of Conflict was my first time in military uniform onstage. I learnt the basics of soldierly mien and drill, which have been constantly useful since.
END OF CONFLICT

" "

Mark Eden (R) and Ian McKellen

Mark Eden was the most glamorous actor I had worked with — he had star quality, more to do with his looks and demeanour than with his talent.
END OF CONFLICT

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Lt. Brash (Mark Eden) and 2nd Lt. Mason (Ian McKellen)
END OF CONFLICT

L to R: Snodgrass (Ian McKellen), Winkle (Peter French), Pickwick (Patrick Newell), Jingle (Bernard Kilby), Tupman (Alan Haywood)
MR. PICKWICK

Pickwick (Patrick Newell), Perker (Robin Parkinson), Isabelle (Penelope Cave), Mogsbury-Tonks (Jeffrey Sluggett), Snodgrass (Ian McKellen), Mrs Hunter (Sheila Keith), Joe (William Swan), Buzfuz (Denzil Ellis)
MR. PICKWICK

I was once more partnered with Bridget Turner (Nina).
THE SEAGULL (1962)

Arkadina (Sheila Keith) and Konstantin (Ian McKellen)
THE SEAGULL (1962)

With Bridget Turner.
THE BRIDE COMES BACK

Claudio
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1962)

Ian McKellen, Robert Stephens, Albert Finney
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1962)
Zoe Dominic

Pastiche L to R: Peter French, Kristine Howarth, Ian McKellen, Jane Murdoch, Sheila Keith
Happy Returns

In rep theatres in the 60’s, actors were required to provide their own stage-clothes for modern plays. Here as a silly-ass rich boy who drives an E-type Jaguar, I sported my old school tie.
TEN LITTLE NIGGERS

"

Sheila Keith (L) and Ian McKellen.

I was the hippy son of the household; the beard, like the performance, was false.
THE IRREGULAR VERB TO LOVE

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L to R: Ian Thompson, Gawn Grainger, Colin Kaye, Brendan Barry, Ian de Voy, Patrick OConnell, Ian McKellen, Roderick Horn, Clive Graham, Jonathan Meddings,
BECKET

The Kings fit before murder. L to R: Jonathan Meddings, Ian McKellen, Patrick OConnell, Clive Graham, Gawn Grainger
BECKET

L to R: Gawn Grainger, Ian McKellen, Roderick Horn, Ian de Voy, Josie Kidd
THE GAZEBO
Commercial Studios

L to R: Ian McKellen, Jonathan Meddings
THE GAZEBO
Commercial Studios

L to R: Ian McKellen, Josie Kidd, Barbara Atkinson, Jonathan Meddings, Helen Ryan, Gawn Grainger, Brendan Barry
CASTE

Caste, pre-cursor of kitchen-sink drama, was the first play in which a real cup of tea was brewed onstage. L to R: Jonathan Meddings, Josie Kidd, Ian McKellen
CASTE

L to R: Gawn Grainger, Ian McKellen, Jonathan Meddings, Colin Kaye
THE BIG KILLING

L to R: Brendan Barry, Michael Forrest, Gawn Grainger, Ian McKellen, Brian Hankins
THE KEEP (1962)

With Gawn Grainger (Uriah Heep) my closest friend at Ipswich. Thereafter his career thrived. Later married to actress Zoe Wanamaker.
DAVID COPPERFIELD (1962)

Nightmare Sequence L to R: Ian McKellen, Brendan Barry, Alec Wallis
DAVID COPPERFIELD (1962)

With Jonathan Meddings (Tommy Traddles)
DAVID COPPERFIELD (1962)

The cast. Ian McKellen (Tee Vee) at far left. Others from left: Irene French, Brendan Barry, Gawn Grainger, Irene Innescourt, Marti Webb, Peter Macriel, Jonathan Meddings, Josie Kidd, Colin Kaye
ALADDIN & HIS WONDERFUL LAMP

L to R: Susan Wherrett, Colin Kaye, Gillian Malster, Marcia Ashton, Irene Inescort, Jonathan Meddings, Chris Winnera, Josie Kidd, Ian McKellen, Brendan Barry
How Dare We!

Entry into Harfleur, Ian McKellen (centre) with other members of the cast.
HENRY V (1963)

Henry V
HENRY V (1963)

Josie Kidd and I as sweethearts yet again. Roger Hammond, a friend from Cambridge, having been to drama school, had now joined the company.
UNDER MILK WOOD

L to R: Chris Winnera, Colin Kaye, Josie Kidd, Helen Ryan, Ian McKellen, Roberta Maxwell, Roger Hammond, Douglas Ditta, Gawn Grainger, Doreen Andrew, Barbara Atkinson, Jonathan Meddings, Brigid Panet, Susan Wherrett, Stephen MacDonald
UNDER MILK WOOD

Backstage party: Surrounding a local fan holding a cake, clockwise from lower left: Ian McKellen, Doreen Andrews, Stephen MacDonald, Roger Hammond, Josie Kidd, Roberta Maxwell, Gawn Grainger, Brendan Barry
ARSENIC AND OLD LACE

L to R: Ian McKellen (Luther), Stephen MacDonald (Cajetan), and Gawn Grainger (Tetzel). Stephen MacDonald later playwright/director of Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh.
LUTHER

Martin Luther
LUTHER

Ian McKellen (Luther) and Gawn Grainger (The Knight)
LUTHER

Ian McKellen with Ann Curthoys (Anne Green)
THE BIG CONTRACT

"

L to R: Betty Bowden, Clive Morton, Stephen MacDonald, Ian McKellen

As in most productions, our Mary Tyrone acted her husband and sons off the stage - much the best part.
LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT

" "

Clive Morton (James Tyrone) and Ian McKellen (Edmund Tyrone.)

I was very excited to work with Clive, trailing glory from films and the West End. By this time, simply on the basis of how well we all worked together, we believed that ours was a golden time in Ipswich.
LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT

"

L to R: Gawn Grainger, Josie Kidd, James Cairncross, Betty Bowden, Thomasine Heiner, Ian McKellen
I, JOHN BROWN

The things that are done by a don, are things that a don doesn’t oughta... Josie Kidd, June Seath, Janet McIntire, Susan Wherrett, Roger Hammond, Douglas Ditta, Ian McKellen, Bruce Purchase
SALAD DAYS

Something for a future nation to be proud of. Act 3. Morgan Evans (Ian McKellen) and Miss Moffat (Peggy Mount.)
THE CORN IS GREEN


THE CORN IS GREEN

Morgan Evans (Ian McKellen) gets a beating from Miss Moffat the schoolmistress (Peggy Mount.)

I was lucky enough to spar with Peggy Mount, a huge star of television and stage ever since her appearance as the harridan heroine of SAILOR BEWARE.
THE CORN IS GREEN

Josie Kidd, Ian McKellen, Roger Hammond
THE PUBLIC EYE

"

L to R: Ian McKellen, James Cairncross, Gabrielle Hamilton, Andrew Keir, Peter Griffin, Josie Kidd, Gawn Grainger, Mark Follett.

Despite the songs and occasional jollity, this was the most depressing play to act in — we all agreed.
SERJEANT MUSGRAVE’S DANCE

"

James Cairncross, Andrew Keir and Ian McKellen (Sparky) at the feet of Josie Kidd.
SERJEANT MUSGRAVE’S DANCE

My parents—in-law were played by Clive Morton and his wife Frances Rowe.
ALL IN GOOD TIME


ALL IN GOOD TIME


ALL IN GOOD TIME

My rage is gone and I am struck with sorrow.
CORIOLANUS (1963)


CORIOLANUS (1963)

"

Yvonne Coulette, Ian McKellen, Leo McKern.

Leo McKern was another Beatles fan and sang She Loves You yeah, yeah, yeah each night on his way to the stage. The following year he co-starred in their second film HELP!, playing the evil leader of a murderous cult. Eleanor Bron and Roy Kinnear also appeared in the Beatles film.
THE LIFE IN MY HANDS

"

Final soliloquy, Arthur fishing in the canal off the front of the Nottingham stage
SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING

Ian McKellen, Ursula Smith, and Joan Heal
SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING

"

Ian McKellen as Sir Thomas More

I was too young but enjoyed trying to look like the real Sir Thomas — this photo was taken in my dressing-room.
SIR THOMAS MORE

"


SIR THOMAS MORE

Jennifer Hilary as Zoe watches unseeingly as her stepbrother Godfrey (Ian McKellen) mends a puncture. In the background, the Priest is played by Peter Howell
A SCENT OF FLOWERS

Avoiding responsibilities on stage at Golders Green Hippodrome
A SCENT OF FLOWERS

With Peter Howell
A SCENT OF FLOWERS

With Peter Howell, Wimbledon 23 October 1964, before matinee.
A SCENT OF FLOWERS

Albert Finney, Robert Stephens, Ian McKellen
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1965)

Claudio
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1965)

Closing scene
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1965)

With Maggie Smith
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1965)

Ian McKellen (Claudio), Caroline John (Hero), and Albert Finney (Don Pedro)
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1965)
Zoe Dominic

This was the only National Theatre production I played in at the Old Vic
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1965)

At the Chichester Festival
ARMSTRONG'S LAST GOODNIGHT

Outside the Festival Theatre Chichester during the National Theatres summer sojourn
ARMSTRONG'S LAST GOODNIGHT

Outside St. Martin's Theatre with Jill Bennett
A LILY IN LITTLE INDIA
George Walker

Alvin
A LILY IN LITTLE INDIA

Alvin
A LILY IN LITTLE INDIA

Act 1, with Jesse Evans: Go on, tell us! No.
A LILY IN LITTLE INDIA
Anthony Crickmay


A LILY IN LITTLE INDIA
Anthony Crickmay

Last scene, with Jill Bennett
A LILY IN LITTLE INDIA
Anthony Crickmay


A LILY IN LITTLE INDIA
David Newell Smith

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