Sir Ian McKellen ‘Coming Out’ was best thing to do

Sir Ian McKellen revealed he was gay during a BBC radio interview in 1988 and says it was the ‘best thing’ he could have done.
The high profile actor, and campaigner for gay rights, told the Daily Mail:

“In the Fifties and Sixties, the life of a gay man was a secret. Homosexuality was illegal, so you didn’t draw attention to yourself. But coming out is the best thing I ever did and I’ve never met a gay person who didn’t think the same.”

The actor who has starred in Coronation Street and The Lord Of The Rings notes however, as many others have done, it can be seen as a setback to ‘come out’ if you’re a young actor.

“Even now there are young actors who want careers as romantic leading men and the best thing is not to reveal you’re gay. I suppose I used to wonder if I’d be allowed to play Romeo if I came out.
“Eventually, I thought if you compromise to the extent of lying about yourself, is there any job in the world that’s worth that? I don’t think there is.” Adding “It’s still a sensitive issue in Hollywood, though.”

McKellen is to star alongside Sir Derek Jacobi as a bickering gay couple in a new ITV1 sitcom to air next year.