Gandalf brought to book
Lord of the Rings actor reveals research trick.
Sir Ian McKellen has revealed that his Gandalf costume was specially altered so that he could keep a copy of The Lord of The Rings close to his chest at all times.
"I had lunch with [director] Peter Jackson and Christopher Lee," he told the Metro newspaper, "and Christopher greeted me by speaking Elvish and the black language of Mordor.
"He told me he read the novel every summer. I thought: 'He's got to be a better Gandalf than me.' So I had a pocket inserted into Gandalf The Grey's robes to hold the weighty tome of the trilogy as a reference during filming."
Sir Ian also spoke of his disappointment that kids don't believe he played Gandalf in the film trilogy - because he looks nothing like the character out of make-up.
"I have to explain that I'm not the real Gandalf, he's off saving Middle Earth," said the actor.
In a cunning plan to correct this, the Cult team's Ann has emailed Sir Ian, suggesting that he might like to try his hand at being Father Christmas somewhere just for fun this winter. Once he's put on a big white beard, the kids will recognise him in a trice.
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