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Hollywood 'old-fashioned' on gay actors - McKellen

Sir Ian McKellen

The British star said he found it distressing that it was still "very, very, very difficult" for an American actor in the movie business to be upfront about his sexuality.

Speaking at the Berlin International Film Festival, where he picked up a lifetime achievement award, Sir Ian was guarded about what impact the success of Oscar front-runner Brokeback Mountain - about a gay relationship between two cowboys - might have.

The 66-year-old Lord of the Rings actor is one of the cinematic world's most high-profile openly gay stars, having come out in 1988.

Sexuality

"It is very, very, very difficult for an American actor who wants a film career to be open about his sexuality and even more difficult for a woman," Sir Ian said.

"The film industry is very old-fashioned in California."

He added: "It's very distressing to me that that should be the case."

Sir Ian said his own career in mainstream films "really took off" after he came out.

He was awarded an honorary Golden Bear in Berlin.