Sir Ian McKellen believes coming out as gay back in the 1980s helped him forge meaningful connections with other people

In an interview with the Huffington Post, the 85-year-old actor admitted he's "never been in the vanguard of change" and his role has been "really been supporting others who understood how to make change happen".

He added: "But I'm aware, because people tell me, that it was helpful to them in their own journey to read about, and be aware of, people like me and Michael Cashman and Stephen Fry, and so many others. We're all connected aren't we?

"One of the wonderful things about coming out was not just that one's life changes totally for the better - because you're being honest, at last, with yourself and with other people - but that you make connections with other people who have been through the same problems as you have yourself.

"And not just in this country - far away. So, to bear witness just by saying that you're gay can be a wonderful help to people."

He added of his own coming out: "I just did what I did, and discovered in being honest about myself that I was then connected to lots of other people. My contribution was simply to be myself."

Ian went on to shrug off the notion that he's seen as a "national treasure" and insisted people are getting him mixed up with his 'Lord of The Rings' character Gandalf.

He added: "When people, as they sometimes do, praise me for the effect I've had on their own lives ... well that wasn't me, really. That was probably Gandalf, you know?"