Sir Ian McKellen is one of the most talented and beloved actors of all time. A master of both television, film, and theatre, he is someone who can do it all and throughout his amazing career, he has done just that. His filmography is unbelievably impressive and whenever he is cast, audiences are instantly interested in the project.
This is purely down to how talented he is and while he has had a few forgettable roles over the course of his lifetime, Sir Ian McKellen has also been involved in tons of iconic projects. Over the years, he has given life to some fantastic characters.
Beauty And The Beast - 7.1 (2017)
Sir Ian McKellen has played many great roles throughout his career, epic and powerful characters, and he has also been a clock. However, it was an iconic clock, as he played the role of Cogsworth in the 2017 live-action version of Disney's Beauty And The Beast.
Taking the incredibly popular animated movie and bringing it into real life was a big challenge for Disney, but with a star-studded cast, it's one that the company did well. Sir Ian McKellen was excellent as Cogsworth, bringing the right amount of pomp and arrogance to the role, all while keeping him comedic and lighthearted at the same time.
David Copperfield - 7.3 (1966)
In 1966, the BBC created a television show purely based around the novel, David Copperfield, which was written by Charles Dickens. The story is one that has been adapted countless times, but this is one of the best versions of that, which is mainly down to how great Sir Ian McKellen is as David himself.
Working roles like this is something that Sir Ian McKellen has always thrived in, being able to deliver incredible monologues that sound epic. Throughout this series, he put in some splendid performances to really help this tale be told in a brand new manner.
Richard III - 7.4 (1995)
Speaking of classic, old-school roles, Sir Ian McKellen's performance as Richard III is another great example of that. In this movie adaptation of the Shakespeare play, he worked as the lead role, as well as lending his talents by being a writer and producer for the film.
The story is a well-known one with the king being infamous for scheming and plotting behind peoples backs. However, this movie took a slight twist on things by bringing the character to the 1930s, which really helped make the movie intriguing and entertaining.
Gods And Monsters - 7.4 (1988)
Gods and Monsters is a gripping drama that focuses on James Whale, who is a director that is played by Sir Ian McKellen. While he is a director by the point of the film, he had previously been involved in World War I and that is something that plays a big part in his mental wellbeing.
It's loosely based on the Father of Frankenstein novel and it really is a tremendous movie with Sir Ian McKellen pulling in a tremendous performance.
Stardust - 7.6 (2007)
Sir Ian McKellen may not be one of the lead roles in Stardust, but he did work as the narrator of this fantastic story, which was splendid casting for this. Sir Ian McKellen brought the exact amount of class and seriousness that the fantasy film required.
His voice just worked to perfection with the story, and because his voice is so iconic, it worked really well and allowed fans to feel comfortable and at ease with the story as soon as it began.
X-Men: Days Of Future Past - 8 (2014)
The role of Magneto is one that Sir Ian McKellen has taken on several times, with this being one of the most iconic characters that the British actor has done throughout his career. However, the highest-rated of his X-Men adventures came when the past and the future were all blended together.
X-Men: Days Of Future Past is an incredible movie, with Wolverine heading back to the past in a bid to save everyone in the future. It was a passing of the baton in many ways as Michael Fassbender stepped up as the young version of Magneto, which continued to do afterwards.
Vicious - 8.1 (2013-2016)
Vicious was an incredibly popular television show that brought Sir Ian McKellen together with Derek Jacobi, and they had fantastic chemistry that really made this show work. As an elderly couple, the duo had been through all the highs and lows of life together and that relationship was showcased throughout.
The chemistry helped to make the series so good with brilliant comedy and fantastic emotional scenes as well. While it might not have had all the drama that some of the other examples on this list, it certainly had incredible acting to make the show work.
Extras - 8.3 (2005-2007)
Sir Ian McKellen was only part of one episode of the incredibly popular, Extras, which was a show that saw tons of major celebrities appear. Ricky Gervais' dry sense of humor always brought out the best in everyone who appeared on the show, and Sir Ian McKellen's episode is one of the funniest.
Going through with Sir Ian McKellen providing acting tips for Ricky was hilarious and it was clearly a role that Sir Ian McKellen absolutely loved playing. Much like other big names such as David Bowie, he seemed to just leap into the performance and commit, which made it even funnier.
National Theatre: King Lear - 8.6 (2018)
Sir Ian McKellen is well known for his love of the stage, and his ability to perform at the highest level night after night is what makes him a truly remarkable actor. While performing King Lear, the theatre performance was shared, live as a television movie to allow a wider audience to see it.
Of course, he played the lead role of Lear himself and brought a breathtaking performance to it, hence why it ranks so highly as one of his best roles. It just showcases how talented of an actor he is on the stage, as well as on the big screen.
The Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King - 8.9 (2003)
Sir Ian McKellen has played Gandalf six times throughout his career, but the best of the bunch for him came in the final Lord Of The Rings movie. This was the climax of the original trilogy that Peter Jackson put together, and it truly was an incredible movie.
The third instalment saw Gandalf heavily involved in the action, especially in Gondor, where he has a big part to play in the proceedings. Sir Ian McKellen was the perfect person to take on this part, bringing the Shakespearean tone to the character, all while keeping him charming throughout.