Sir Ian McKellen makes rare comments about what it was like to come out as gay in the 80s

Sir Ian McKellen has shared that coming out as gay was a pivotal moment in his life, not just for his personal liberation but also for the impact it had on others grappling with their sexuality.

The esteemed Lord of The Rings actor, who declared his sexuality to the world in 1988, reflected on the profound change it brought about in his life and believes that it equally served as a beacon of hope for many others. In a heartfelt talk, the 85 year old talked openly about his experience, saying he's "never been in the vanguard of change" and instead has played a supporting role to those spearheading societal shifts.

He explained to the Huffington Post: "But I'm aware, because people tell me, that it was helpful to them in their own journey to read about, and be aware of, people like me and Michael Cashman and Stephen Fry, and so many others. We're all connected aren't we?"

Highlighting the transformative power of embracing one's truth, Sir Ian said: "One of the wonderful things about coming out was not just that one's life changes totally for the better - because you're being honest, at last, with yourself and with other people but that you make connections with other people who have been through the same problems as you have yourself. And not just in this country far away. So, to bear witness just by saying that you're gay can be a wonderful help to people."

On his own revelation, he remarked: "I just did what I did, and discovered in being honest about myself that I was then connected to lots of other people. My contribution was simply to be myself." Ian dismissed the idea of being considered a "national treasure", attributing it to confusion with his Lord of The Rings character Gandalf. He further clarified: "When people, as they sometimes do, praise me for the effect I've had on their own lives ... well that wasn't me, really. That was probably Gandalf, you know?"

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