Ian McKellen is a versatile British actor from Shakespeare, to X-Men and Lord Of The Rings. Whilst at Cambridge University he started acting and from there appeared on the West End Stage and worked at the Old Vic and at the RSC. His acting on the stage has continued throughout his career and he is considered one of the great theatrical performers of his generation. His first significant film role was in Alfred The Great in 1969. Following this he appeared in several adaptations of Shakespeare plays and television episodes. In 1989 he played John Profumo in Scandal. He Gives a good performance in Restoration, though the film is not that great. During the mid 1990's he appeared in supporting roles in historical drama's an contemporary drama's. God's And Monsters was his first staring role in a movie rather than a theatrical adaptation and for which he won a Best Actor Oscar nomination as the director James Whale. Apt Pupil was a different role as a former Nazi war criminal. In 2000 he moved into the Marvel X-Men franchise. His role as Gandalf in Lord Of The Rings is a different but powerful character. With the Da Vinci Code is a modern action film but his is a non-action part.
