McKellen: Playing the Part

Director Joe Stephenson paints a beautiful portrait, but the actor’s sensitivity, storytelling and strength of character are captivating enough.

Yet even - perhaps especially - in morbid mood, [Ian McKellen] is never less than beguiling.

McKellen occasionally slips into the part of twinkly super-cool gay uncle that he tends to play in interviews these days. But mostly he’s thoughtful and self-reflective.

Essentially based around a single interview, Playing the Part allows McKellen's avuncular personality, warmth and wicked humour to shine.

McKellen: Playing the Part is a celebration of a life particularly well-lived. McKellen emerges as a clear-eyed, impish, utterly professional and pragmatic optimist.

As the documentary ends with him discussing his funeral plans you appreciate what a treat it is to have the Oscar-award winner telling his own story in his own words.

Structured very simply as an on-camera interview while McKellen reminisces about his life from the comfort of a red library chair, the film exudes a personal warmth springing from the fact that most of it is told in Sir Ian’s own words.

An absolute treat of an interview with a man who has told other people’s stories wonderfully for decades and tells his own just as well.