From Alan Rickman diaries: 2004 October 7.10 pick-up for → HP. Off set much utterly unmissable chat between Maggie and Michael about days at the NT, Olivier, Coward, Edith Evans then talk of what’s upcoming. ‘Serena (Ian McK.) is doing his Dame,’ says Michael. At first I thought he’d said ‘Arena is doing the Dame.’ ‘Judi?’ I enquired to blank faces. Once corrected, I proffered, ‘That’ll be packed.’ ‘With what?’ says Maggie
Why did Michael Gambon Call Ian McKellen Serena?
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | November 10, 2022 12:29 PM |
Gambon and McKellen are friends; "Serena" was almost certainly a play on "Sir Ian."
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | November 10, 2022 11:47 AM |
[quote]Since being knighted in 1991, he's embraced the nickname "Serena McKellen." Stephen Fry coined this playful nickname after realizing it sounds very similar to Sir Ian McKellen. When he appeared at the closing ceremony of the Gay Games in 1994, Sir Ian told the crowd: "I'm Sir Ian McKellen, but you can call me Serena."
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | November 10, 2022 11:48 AM |
Thank you R1 ans R2. I thought Gambon was making a homophobic joke even though he also said he stopped being gay as it made his eyes water. He was annoyed at a journalist who asked whether playing gay characters bothered him.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | November 10, 2022 12:29 PM |