Ian Mckellen: who is Lord of The Rings actor, what films has he been in, when is Amol Rajan interview on TV?

Ian Mckellen is appearing in a new in-depth interview with the BBC’s Amol Rajan which will take a deep dive into his life and career.

Mckellen is one of the UK’s most successful actors, and is best known for his role as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings franchise.

But what other films has he been in - and when is the Amol Rajan interview on TV? This is what you need to know.

Ian Mckellen was born in Burnley, Lancashire in 1939.

The 82-year-old actor’s career has spanned seven decades, and he has won several awards including a Tony, a Golden Globe and four BAFTAs.

Mckellen has played some major roles, in films such as The Lord of the Rings, Richard III, Gods and Monsters, Scandal, Six Degrees of Separation and the X-Men franchise.

He started his career in the theatre in 1961 - his very first role was Roper in A Man for All Seasons at the Belgrade Theatre.

He turned to film in 1969 and found fame after The Promise, Alfred the Great and A Touch of Love.

The Hollywood blockbuster films X-Men and The Lord of The Rings solidified Mckellen as a national treasure.

In recent years he has starred in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Cats.

Mckellen  is known for being active in the LGBTQIA+ sphere and often supports charities and campaigns.

The hour-long interview is part of a wider series on BBC Two hosted by Rajan, in which he grills global stars and leaders with hard hitting questions.

Previously he has interviewed tennis champion Novak Djokovic and Alphabet CEO, Sundar Pichai.

The interview shows have delved into controversial topics such as the Covid-19 vaccine and whether Google has too much power.

Further episodes in the series will include interviews with Nile Rogers and Sharon White.

Viewers can expect McKellen to open up about his childhood in Lancashire during the second world war.

He will also discuss his first kiss on British TV and the connection between the X-Men films and the civil rights movement.

The interview will be aired on BBC Two at 9pm on 3 March 2022.

It will be available to stream on IPlayer after the initial interview airs on TV.