Derek Jacobi or Ian McKellen?

I've preferred Jacobi for a long time. When they were younger and even into middle-age, I generally found McKellan had a lot of impressive technique and skill, but Jacobi has always had an open emotionality as an actor (in addition to be as skilled as McKellan) that gave him an edge and helped you empathize with his characters even if you didn't like them all the time. McKellan got better in that department as he got older - perhaps in his case, coming out did improve his acting.

Jacobi did not sell out like McKellen

Wasn't McKellen called out for being a jailbait fan like his buddy Bryan?

For me, Derek wins for I Claudius.

I much prefer Derek. I've seen them both on stage - in Shakespeare and other parts. I think Jacobi is an amazing creature of the stage, who is able to declaim the verse with clarity, verve, and originality. He has a tendency to get a little camp at times, and overdo it, but he's a true great. McKellen is much less compelling; he tries to be more modern and naturalistic and mumbles too much and the expression is more generalized. He's better on camera. I admire him, but think he's been a bit overrated especially post LOTR.

What a vicious choice to have to make!

McKellen is one of the best Macbeths that I have ever seen (the 1977 production with Judi Dench). They play the couple like the Kennedys, not the Nixons. It worked. Bob Peck, Roger Rees, Ian McDiarmid, and Sir John Wood rounded out the cast.

McKellen = a little bit in love with himself.

I agree with R4. Derek Jacobi was great in his BAFTA-winning role in "I, Claudius".

He also has done a wide variety of other interesting roles over the years in projects large and small: as a Senator in 'Gladiator', as Brother Cadfael in the Mystery television series, and as The Master in 'Doctor Who'. He also had an amusing guest appearance on "Frasier" as a washed-up Shakespearian actor (for which he won an Emmy).

[quote] For me, Derek wins for I Claudius.

I also thought he was incredible in the BBC's production of Hamlet.

R10, yes, he played Hamlet in the 1980's BBC version, and then in the 1990's he played Claudius in the Kenneth Branagh version.

Jacobi was almost pretty back in 1966.

Then he was almost-this and almost-that but I never thought he could carry a million dollar movie we could sell and have it play in Peoria.