McKellen: 'I'm happy being openly gay'

Sir Ian McKellen has denounced the belief that gay actors should not divulge their sexuality.

McKellen, who played Gandalf in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, spoke to PopEater, claiming that openly gay actors are much happier.

"If you're going around telling a lie you may get by but you won't be half as happy as you would be if you came out," the actor said.

He explained: "I don't think any gay person is going to be happy and bring joy to themselves and other people unless they can be honest about their sexuality, and if other people don't like that honesty, that's a comment on them and not on the person who is being honest."

McKellen is expected to reprise his role as Gandalf in The Hobbit.