Gay Today: World

Oscar Nod for Sir Ian McKellen

By Rex Wockner
International News Report

Openly gay British actor Sir Ian McKellen was nominated for the best-actor Oscar for Gods and Monsters February 9. The movie tells the story of gay horror-film director James Whale.

Responding to the news, McKellen told Sky Television: "There is a shift certainly in American society as there is in British society toward an acceptance of gay people as being perfectly ordinary. The film industry is at last beginning to catch up with that and reflect it.

McKellan plays Frankenstein director James Whale

"[But] when we were trying to get a distributor to sell this movie -- having received critical acclaim -- there were still some producers, some very big producers whose names I won't mention, who said they wouldn't market that because it was about gays.

"It is ridiculous. There is one gay character in the movie but it is about love and friendship and companionship. The reaction I get by snail mail and e-mail is, 'Thank you for a movie that made me laugh and cry at the same time.'

"I think the world is beginning to grow up, and at last gays are at the center of films and just being treated as perfectly ordinary people. That is an added pleasure for me."

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Related Sites:
Gods and Monsters: Official Site
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