Sir Ian McKellan and Sir Patrick Stewart Discuss Broadway, 'Gandalf Face' and the Power of Theater

Everyone's favorite BFFs. (Screenshot via Broadway.com)
Everyone's favorite BFFs. (Screenshot via Broadway.com)
If the internet taught us anything in 2013, it’s that acting legends Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen have the most amazing friendship ever. The duo spend most of the latter half of the year basically splashing their epic friendship all over New York City and taking selfies at every sort of tourist landmark imaginable.  And no one minded because they’re perfect.

The duo is currently starring in both Waiting for Godot and No Man’s Land, which are running in repertory at Broadway’s Cort Theater. The run of both shows has just been extended to the end of March, so there’s still time to see these two acting greats on stage, if you happen to be anywhere near New York. (I’ve been lucky enough to see both productions and they are truly fabulous – though I’ll admit Godot was my favorite.)

McKellen and Stewart sat down with Broadway.com recently to participate in their “Ask a Star” feature (rebranded "Ask the Sirs" in this instance), in which they took questions from curious fans. Despite the fact that the pair have done countless interviews recently as a result of their being on the Great White Way together, this is certainly one of the best, doubtless because of its rather far-ranging subject matter. (Well done, fans!) 

They talk about their first impressions of each other, wigs, the power of theater, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, whether Godot exists and a lot more.  And it’s basically the best ten minutes you’ll spend watching something today.

Watch their amazing back-and-forth below. 

Their banter between questions is pretty much the best thing ever. Ugh, they’re just amazing. 

You can catch McKellen on your local PBS station later this year, when his comedy Vicious crosses the pond at last.  And both of them will be in the upcoming X-Men sequel Days of Future Past, which will open this May.

In the meantime, I’m sure we can look forward to more internet selfies from the both of them. After all, there have to be a few more famous New York landmarks the two haven’t tweeted about yet. 


Lacy Baugher

Lacy's love of British TV is embarrassingly extensive, but primarily centers around evangelizing all things Doctor Who, and watching as many period dramas as possible.

Digital media type by day, she also has a fairly useless degree in British medieval literature, and dearly loves to talk about dream poetry, liminality, and the medieval religious vision. (Sadly, that opportunity presents itself very infrequently.) York apologist, Ninth Doctor enthusiast, and unabashed Ravenclaw. Say hi on Threads or Blue Sky at @LacyMB. 

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