‘Homeland’ Star Damian Lewis Apologises To Ian McKellen

Homeland’s Damian Lewis has issued an apology to Ian McKellen for remarks made earlier this week.

McKellen dismissed the need for an apology and called Lewis a “gentleman.”

Damian Lewis, the star of Showtime’s critically acclaimed Homeland, has issued an apology to Ian McKellen. Earlier this week, Lewis reportedly stated that,

“The idea that I would be one of these slightly over-the-top, fruity actors who would have an illustrious career on stage, but wouldn’t start getting any kind of film work until I was 50 and then start playing wizards.”

These comments were taken as a dig towards McKellen, who found fame as Gandalf the Wizard in The Lord of the Rings series. Lewis took action upon hearing that his words had been misconstrued.

He released the following statement,

“I am hugely embarrassed that comments of mine have been linked in a negative way to Sir Ian McKellen. I have always been, and continue to be, an enormous fan and admirer of Sir Ian’s. He’s one of the greats and one of the reasons I became an actor. My comment in the Guardian was a soundbite I’ve been giving since 1999 – it was a generic analogy that was never intended to demean or describe anyone else’s career. I have contacted Sir Ian McKellen and have given him my sincerest apologies.”

McKellen accepted his apology in a series of tweets,

There was no need for @Lewis_Damian to apologise to me, as I thought his comments were fair. But he’s a gentleman. — Ian McKellen (@IanMcKellen) December 12, 2013

And then took the opportunity to plug his next movie, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Now I hope @lewis_damian enjoys @TheHobbitMovie DOS as much as I enjoy @SHO_Homeland — Ian McKellen (@IanMcKellen) December 12, 2013

Source: HuffPo

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