It seems like every incredible British actor had at least one role in the global Harry Potter franchise – all except one acting legend.
And now Sir Ian McKellen has revealed the real reason why he never played Dumbledore – despite many seeing him as a natural fit, especially after Richard Harris died after the second film, The Chamber Of Secrets, came out in 2002.
Speaking on the BBCs HARDtalk programme, 77-year-old openly gay Sir Ian revealed that he was in fact approached by the producers to take on the role of Albus Dumbledore after Richard passed away.
But it was Harris' personal opinion of gay people that kept Sir Ian away from the iconic wizarding series, as he had described Ian, Derek Jacobi and Kenneth Branagh as "technically brilliant, but passionless".
"When he died – he played Dumbledore, the wizard – I played the real wizard [Gandalf in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy] of course – but when they called me up and said would I be interested in being in the Harry Potter films, they didn't say what part," said Ian.
"I worked out what they were thinking and I couldn't. I couldn't take over the part from an actor who I'd known hadn't approved of me."
Most Read
"So you could have been Dumbledore?" he was asked.
"Well sometimes when I see posters of Michael Gambon, the actor who gloriously plays Dumbledore, I think it's me. You know, we get asked for each other's autographs!"
In the same interview Ian talked about how he's still fighting for gay rights in his eighth decade, and recently went to Russia to see how homophobia exists out in the open.He had to be escorted by bodyguards for his own protection when he visited the country, where the rights of gay people are restricted.
"It did feel [dangerous] in Russia… there the local politicians are homophobic, so as a visitor trying to be myself, I had to be protected."
But the stage and screen legend said it was far better for more gay actors to come out of the closet to set an example to teenagers who may be confused about their sexuality.
"Practically every person I know who has declared their sexuality, life becomes better in every possible way once you are honest," he added.