QuoteProject
There are people who've enjoyed my work in the theater, and they let me know that it was special for them. I'm not going to say, 'Well, you should have seen me as Gandalf!'
Ian Mckellen
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote reflects the significance of an artist's work to their audience without comparing it to other roles.

Ian McKellen expresses gratitude for the appreciation he has received from audiences regarding his theater work. He emphasizes that he values their experience over engaging in comparisons to his more famous roles, highlighting the personal connection between an artist and their audience. This sentiment suggests that each performance has its own unique impact, distinct from past or future roles.

Themes

TheaterAppreciationArtAudiencePerformance

In practice

Example use cases

A theater major reflecting on their performance after a show.

More from Ian Mckellen

It's only fair that stable gay relationships of long standing should have the same rights and responsibilities as married couples. I know the image of gay marriage is to some people horrific and ludicrous.
Ian MckellenRead
On the whole, actors shout when they don't know what they're doing, trying to make an impact.
Ian MckellenRead
I just followed my parents' example and advice on living, which was to leave the world a better place than you found it. They were professional do-gooders, ministers of the church, social workers, teachers, and missionaries, that sort of thing.
Ian MckellenRead
I don't make any distinction between a popular TV series or blockbuster film and doing Shakespeare. They're different, but as long as the material is good and the intention is honourable, it's all the same to me.
Ian MckellenRead
There are deaths in public places on the grounds that the victim is gay.
Ian MckellenRead
What's nice for me, having identified myself for years as being rather shy, is now, wherever I am, in public, there tends to be a friendly face who's pleased to see me, and I like that.
Ian MckellenRead

Similar quotes

One of the most incredible and important things about the theater is that we're creating a safe space for all feelings, but especially, ugly feelings.
Branden Jacobs-JenkinsRead
In the big picture, architecture is the art and science of making sure that our cities and buildings fit with the way we want to live our lives.
Bjarke IngelsRead
I had to say to myself, 'I haven't written enough about blackness, yet it's part of my consciousness and my lived experience.' I had to get over that anxiety of 'I haven't done this before.'
Tracy K. SmithRead
Art should be like a holiday: something to give a man the opportunity to see things differently and to change his point of view.
Paul KleeRead
The giant white cube is now impeding rather than enhancing the rhythms of art. It preprograms a viewer's journey, shifts the emphasis from process to product, and lacks individuality and openness. It's not that art should be seen only in rutty bombed-out environments, but it should seem alive.
Jerry SaltzRead
As to the number of novels I've abandoned... I shudder to think. I have thrown away five completed novels, and that's a gruesome enough figure. But not necessarily a waste of effort.
Mark HaddonRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.