Sir Ian McKellen says fat suit saved him when he fell from stage

Experienced actor Sir Ian McKellen from Britain revealed that wearing a fat suit while portraying the character Falstaff in a Shakespearean play helped protect him from more severe injuries after he took a fall from a London stage in June.

During a chat with Saga magazine, he shared that he was still healing from the incident. His neck was wrapped in a brace and his right hand was immobilized in a splint.

The famous actor known for playing Gandalf in Peter Jackson's Lord Of The Rings movies mentioned that he is receiving help and support from his friends.

"I wore a padded suit for my role as Falstaff, which protected my ribs and joints," he shared with the magazine targeted towards an older audience.

I narrowly avoided a dangerous situation, so I want to warn readers to be careful.

The actor was acting in a battle scene in Player Kings - a fresh production merging Henry iV, Parts 1 and Part 2 - at London's Noel Coward Theatre when he slipped.

He was said to have yelled in distress, asking for help, and a worker quickly came to aid him. He was brought to the hospital and the show in London was canceled for the remainder of its run.

"I've replayed that accident over and over again. It was a terrible experience," McKellen recounted to Saga.

In the midst of the battle, my foot got tangled in a chair. As I struggled to free it, I found myself gliding on scattered newspapers on the stage, almost like I was skateboarding.

The harder I tried to shake it off, the quicker I moved down a level, onto the front stage, and then into the arms of someone sitting in the front row.

I began to shout for assistance and then expressed my remorse, explaining that this was not my usual behavior. It was a remarkable experience. I believed it was the conclusion of something important. It was extremely distressing.

He mentioned that his chipped vertebrae and fractured wrist were still in the process of healing. As a result, he was spending more time at home because he felt anxious about the possibility of someone accidentally bumping into him.

"I am experiencing intense pain in my shoulders from being suddenly shaken," he explained.

It seems like he is getting great care while he heals, with his close friends nearby and a mix of four young friends, including a gay couple and a straight couple, who are taking turns shopping and preparing meals for him.

Reflecting on the situation, the actor, who received recognition for his exceptional portrayal of Hamlet regardless of his age, also mentioned: "I need to remind myself that I am still capable of acting and that this was just an unfortunate mishap."

"Working helps me not focus on growing older, but instead keeps my mind busy," he explained to Saga.