Ian Mckellen: 'If I was a star, it would be difficult to go off and do 'Coronation Street.' So I guess I'm not a star.'

If I was a star, it would be difficult to go off and do 'Coronation Street.' So I guess I'm not a star.

In his remark, Ian McKellen reflects on the challenges faced by actors who have achieved widespread fame and stardom. He suggests that if he was truly a star, it would be difficult for him to shift his focus to a television show like 'Coronation Street.' This quote has a straightforward meaning: McKellen is acknowledging that being a high-profile actor may limit one's ability to pursue certain projects due to the commitments and expectations that come with fame.The importance of McKellen's quote lies in the recognition of the constraints imposed on actors as they climb the ladder of success. It sheds light on the delicate balance between pursuing ambitious and diverse roles while maintaining a certain level of stardom. McKellen's comment also reveals his humility and self-awareness, indicating that he may not consider himself a star in the conventional sense, as he is still able to take part in a popular television series like 'Coronation Street.'Digging deeper into the quote, it invites us to ponder a philosophical concept known as the Plato's Cave allegory. In this allegory, Plato paints a vivid picture of people chained and imprisoned inside a cave, their only perception of reality limited to the shadows cast on the wall by objects passing in front of a fire behind them. Plato suggests that those imprisoned in the cave have a limited understanding of the true nature of the world because they have never experienced anything beyond their confined space.Drawing a parallel between McKellen's quote and the Plato's Cave allegory, we can interpret the role of stardom as the cave itself. Once an actor attains stardom, they are in a sense confined within the expectations and perceptions of the public. Just as the prisoners in the cave can only interpret reality by observing shadows, stars may similarly find their artistic choices constrained by external pressures and limitations.However, McKellen's statement implies that he does not consider himself trapped within the confines of stardom. By suggesting that he is not a star, he implies that he has managed to maintain a certain level of artistic freedom and flexibility in choosing roles. This could be seen as an escape from the cave of fame in Plato's allegory.Furthermore, this quote prompts us to contemplate the nature of stardom itself. Is it merely a perception created by society, or does it carry an inherent weight that influences an actor's artistic decisions? McKellen's comment seems to lean towards the former, indicating that he does not let external perceptions of stardom dictate his choices. By not considering himself a star, he implies that he is free from the constraints and limitations often associated with this status.In conclusion, Ian McKellen's quote about the difficulties of balancing stardom and pursuing diverse roles opens up a philosophical discussion about the nature of fame and artistic freedom. The thought-provoking connections drawn between his quote and Plato's Cave allegory invite us to explore the concept of confinement within the realm of stardom. By presenting himself as not a star, McKellen seems to suggest that he has managed to break free from the limitations imposed by societal expectations, preserving his artistic range and independence. Through his insightful remark, McKellen encourages us to question the role of fame and its impact on the creative choices made by actors in the entertainment industry.