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A bit of a professor’s reunion back during the 2002 Oscars ceremony resulted in a hilarious exchange between Sir Ian McKellen and Maggie Smith. One played the role of Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter film series, while the other portrayed Professor Minerva McGonagall, two of the most senior teachers at Hogwarts.
Regardless, at the 2002 Oscars, McKellen, who had attended because of his role inLord of the Rings,came across his Harry Potter colleague, resulting in a hilarious exchange which ended with Smith completely annihilating McKellen, with a simple joke.
Not only did the actor not win an Oscar for his role as Gandalf, he also returned home after receiving a hilarious insult from his own colleague.
Maggie Smith destroyed Sir Ian McKellen during the 2002 Oscars
One of the most legendary names to have been associated with both Harry Potter and the Lord of the Ring franchise, McKellen’s role as Gandalf had resulted in an Oscar nomination for the best actor in a supporting role category. The award, of course, went to Jim Broadbent for Iris, which did not mean that McKellen had not arrived at the event well-prepared.
As a matter of fact, owing to his superstitious nature, he brought a pounamu pendant from New Zealand, which he wore to the event for luck. During an interview on The Graham Norton Show, McKellen revealed the significance of the pendant, something which also brought forth curiosity fromMaggie Smith:
When those films were nominated for something like 20 Oscars, on that night everyone from New Zealand was wearing their greenstone. When we were on the red carpet going in I met Maggie Smith and she said, ‘Hello what are you here for?’ and I said, ‘Well, Lord of the Rings.’
However, McKellen returned from the ceremony empty-handed, and ended up running into Smith once again. This time around, however, she not only ignored her colleague and friend’s dejection, she also had a simple question, which wasenough to compound his sadness.
Maggie Smith had hilarious response to Sir Ian McKellen not winning the Oscar
As it turns out, even after the ceremony,Sir Ian McKellenended up running into his Harry Potter colleague. Dejected after missing out on the Oscar, he was looking forward to a peaceful drink. However, he was only able to get to it after ahilarious jab from Smith:
You know, it lasts for three-and-a-half, four hours and at the end of course everyone else wins the Oscar except for you. I’m a bit rejected and was looking forward to a drink and I bumped into Maggie Smith and she said, ‘It didn’t work, did it?!’
It indeed, did not work. After all, had it worked, Sir Ian McKellen would have walked home with what would have been his first-ever Oscar. Today, more than twenty years on, the actor is still looking for his maiden Oscar win, even though he has been nominated for the award two times.
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Despite having built a sprawling, successful career that has resulted in multiple major roles across big franchises, the now 85-year-old has not won a single award, and had every reason to be dejected during the 2002 ceremony, especially after receiving such a jibe from his friend.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ringis available to be viewed on Amazon Prime.
Rishabh Bhatnagar
Editor/Reviewer
Articles Published :315
Rishabh Bhatnagar is an Entertainment and pop culture journalist/editor with Fandom Wire. He has more than 6 years of experience working for multiple major platforms and is himself an avid consumer of worthwhile content. A natural storyteller, Rishabh has a unique way with words and is always looking to improve, as a storyteller, writer, and a journalist.
