Ian McKellen recently shared his experience of falling on stage during a performance of *Player Kings*. He credited the fat suit he was wearing for his role as Falstaff for preventing more severe injuries. “I was wearing a fat suit for Falstaff and that saved my ribs and other joints. So I’ve had a lucky escape really,” McKellen stated in an interview with Saga magazine.
Recounting the incident, McKellen explained that the fall occurred during a battle scene. “My foot got caught in a chair, and trying to shake it off I started to slide on some newspaper that was scattered over the stage, like I was on a skateboard,” he recalled. Despite his efforts to regain balance, McKellen found himself sliding down a step onto the forestage and ultimately into the lap of someone in the front row. “I started screaming, ‘Help me!’ and then ‘I’m sorry! I don’t do this!’ Extraordinary things. I thought it was the end of something. It was very upsetting.”
Fortunately, McKellen did not lose consciousness following the accident, and the show continued with his understudy David Semark taking over. Reflecting on the incident, McKellen expressed feelings of guilt and shame, stating, “I don’t feel guilty, but the accident has let down the whole production. I feel such shame. I was hoping to be able to rejoin the play on the tour, but I couldn’t.”
Road to Recovery
As McKellen continues his recovery, he still wears a neck brace due to his injuries. He shared, “My chipped vertebrae and fractured wrist are not yet mended.” Despite the physical challenges he faces, McKellen remains optimistic about his healing process and eventual return to the stage.
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