It’s officially Sir Ian McKellen summer. The legendary actor and national treasure brought his signature charm to the first-ever Windsor and Eton Pride festival, where he delivered one of the most delightfully chaotic pop culture moments of the season.
McKellen made a surprise appearance at the Pride event on July 28 to help premiere Dragged Through Time, a short film exploring 1,000 years of gay history. Directed by 14-year-old Jacob Franklin and produced with local group Notice Productions, the film starred McKellen as Great Uncle Peter, a semi-closeted elder navigating queer identity across generations.
A Charli XCX Fan Is Born
While doing interviews on the Pride grounds, McKellen was asked if he liked pop star Charli XCX. His response? “I can’t get enough of him.” Cue immediate laughter from the interviewer.
Realizing the mix-up, the 85-year-old corrected course in the most endearing way: “Her? Them? THEM! I like THEM!” The moment was captured on TikTok and quickly turned viral, with fans praising McKellen’s good-humored recovery. It’s the kind of charming energy only he could pull off, and frankly, we need more of it.
There’s something especially endearing about watching a queer elder interact with a Gen Z pop icon whose fanbase largely exists in the digital trenches of stan Twitter and gay clubs. You can practically see McKellen’s gears turning as he figures out who Charli XCX is, and still comes to the correct conclusion: she slays.
From Shakespeare to Brat
Speaking to content creator @liamsventures, McKellen was also asked if he likes Troye Sivan, Charli’s recent tour partner and SNL parody target. Turns out, the two go way back.
“Troye and I worked together when I was on tour in Australia,” McKellen shared, referring to their 2010 production of Waiting for Godot.
Though they didn’t share the screen in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Sivan played a young Logan, and McKellen was nowhere near that film, this connection still adds a sweet, full-circle moment to their history.
A Pride Appearance to Remember
Beyond pop culture, McKellen used his appearance to spotlight queer history and the ongoing need for LGBTQ+ education. When asked what piece of gay history stands out most to him, he pointed to Section 28, a piece of 1980s legislation that banned the “promotion” of homosexuality in UK schools.
“Google it,” McKellen said simply, encouraging attendees to learn from the past. His message resonated with Windsor and Eton Pride’s estimated 9,000 visitors, many of whom marched through the historic Long Walk of Windsor Castle.
