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

Experienced British actor Sir Ian McKellen shared that a padded costume he wore to portray Falstaff, a well-known Shakespearean character, protected him from further harm after he tumbled off a stage in London last month.

During an interview with Saga magazine, he shared that he was still recovering from the ordeal. He had a brace on his neck and his right hand was in a splint.

The famous actor known for playing Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings movies shared that his friends were taking care of him.

"I wore a padded suit for my role as Falstaff, which helped protect my ribs and joints," he shared with the publication aimed at an older audience.

I've been fortunate to avoid a dangerous situation, but I want to warn readers to be careful and watch where they're going!

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

He was heard yelling in agony while asking for assistance, and a team member quickly came to aid him. He was then transported to the hospital, leading to the cancellation of the play for the remainder of its London performances.

"I've replayed that accident countless times. It was truly terrible," McKellen shared with Saga.

I found myself in the midst of a battle scene, where my foot accidentally got tangled in a chair. In my attempt to free myself, I ended up gliding across the stage as if I were riding a skateboard, thanks to the slippery newspaper spread across the floor.

The harder I tried to remove it, the quicker I went down a step, onto the stage, and finally onto the lap of someone sitting in the front row.

I began shouting for assistance and then expressing remorse, saying, "I don't usually behave like this!" It was a remarkable experience that left me feeling like it was the end of something. It was incredibly distressing.

He mentioned that his vertebrae and wrist were still injured and needed time to heal. Because of this, he was spending more time at home, feeling anxious about potential collisions with others.

"I am experiencing sharp pains in my shoulders because my entire body was suddenly jerked," he explained.

It seems like he is getting great care while he recovers, as he is being taken care of by his close friends who live nearby. There are four friends, one gay couple and one straight couple, who are helping him by getting groceries and preparing meals.

Reflecting on the situation, the actor, who received acclaim for his exceptional portrayal of Hamlet regardless of his age, remarked: "I need to constantly reassure myself that I still have the ability to act and that this was simply an unfortunate accident."

"Working helps me not focus on aging, but instead keeps my mind occupied," he shared with Saga.