Sir Ian McKellan warns he isn't too far off retirement

Sir Ian McKellan has warned he isn't too far off retirement.

Even though the actor recently said he wasn't even thinking about hanging up the scripts any time soon, he admitted that it might be sooner than expected.

Speaking to the Associated Press, he said he's 'no fool' in where he is in life.

"I don't think...I won't be acting for much longer," he said. "I'm not looking to be in a musical any longer or do a world tour or something any longer.

"I quite like living at home in my own bed within striking distance of the theatre."

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But that's not to say that he isn't relishing every moment he has right now.

The 84-year-old is currently in a production of Frank and Percy, which has been described as 'a sweet, poignant romantic comedy about love later in life'.

He explained to AP: "I don't think I look back very much.

"The highlight at the moment for me is turning up here at 7:30 every night, matinees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday and doing the show.

"I'm very, very grateful that I, to chance that I can still do it."

The legendary British performer has been very busy recently.

In addition to Frank and Percy, he did Hamlet with Ian McKellen at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year, and also had a stage production of Mother Goose run from 2022 to this year.

Variety says he's also just filmed The Critic, as well as a film adaptation of Hamlet, along with voicing a role for a new show from Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane.

McKellan told the outlet that he enjoys keeping a job rather than relaxing in retirement.

“Retire to do what?” he asked.

“I’ve never been out of work, but I’m aware that any minute now something could happen to me which could prevent me from ever working again.

"But while the knees hold up and the memory remains intact, why shouldn’t I carry on? I really feel I’m quite good at this acting thing now.”