Veteran actor Sir Ian McKellen has made a stunning claim that convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein effectively rigged the 1999 Academy Awards, dashing his chance to become the first openly gay man to win a Best Actor Oscar.
A Stolen Victory at the Oscars
The 86-year-old acting legend, a two-time Oscar nominee, revealed that he was the frontrunner for weeks to win the Best Actor award for his role in Gods and Monsters. Speaking at the Two Brewers, a gay bar in London's Clapham, Sir Ian explained that Weinstein, whose Miramax production company made Life is Beautiful, used his considerable influence during awards season to ensure his own films triumphed.
The award ultimately went to Roberto Benigni for his leading role in the Weinstein-produced Life is Beautiful. Sir Ian disclosed that he had even prepared an acceptance speech, which remained in his pocket for years, stating he would be "proud to be the first openly gay actor to receive this award."
Weinstein's Shocking Admission
Sir Ian recounted a chilling postscript to the event, revealing that Weinstein himself later admitted to the deception. "About five or six years later, we met at some other event and he said, 'Oh, I do apologise for stealing the Oscar from you,'" McKellen shared. "Which was nice, but he's in prison now."
He described Weinstein as a "very successful film producer" who had "all sorts of ways" of promoting his movies and was "very busy come awards season time, making sure that it was his films that won the awards."
A Lifelong Advocate's Message of Hope
Beyond the historic Oscar loss, Sir Ian used the platform to express his sorrow for celebrities who feel they cannot be open about their sexuality. A founding member of the LGBTQ+ rights charity Stonewall, he has been one of Britain's most prominent gay stars since coming out during a BBC radio interview in 1988.
He passionately encouraged young, closeted actors to ignore bad advice from agents and live authentically. "I have never met anybody who came out who regretted it," he stated. "Being in the closet is silly — there's no need for it. Don't listen to your advisers, listen to your heart. Come out. Get into the sunshine."
Sir Ian also noted the lingering lack of openly gay Best Actor winners at the Oscars and drew a parallel to the Premier League, suggesting the first footballer to come out would become "the most famous footballer in the world." His comments echo those of actress Kate Winslet, who in 2021 said she knew of many young actors "terrified" their sexuality would be revealed and harm their careers.
