Lord of the Rings star Sir Ian McKellen surprises Christchurch diners
Actor Sir Ian McKellen made an unexpected visit to a Christchurch restaurant after his flight was cancelled, spending several hours interacting with staff and patrons. The visit was widely shared on social media by the restaurant, highlighting the actor's approachable nature.
Why it matters
Human interest story demonstrating the cultural impact of high-profile celebrities on local businesses.
Sir Ian McKellen poses with Etta's owner, Stephanie Reeves. Photo / Facebook
The Lord of the Rings star Sir Ian McKellen made a surprise appearance at a Christchurch restaurant after his flight was cancelled.
McKellen, who played Gandalf in Sir Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films, dined at Etta Restaurant and Bar on Friday night.
Etta shared photos of the actor on a Facebook post captioned: “So ... this just happened!”
“Very privileged to have Sir Ian McKellen and his team in for dinner. Thanks to Issac Theatre Royal and CCC for bringing him to Etta!” it wrote.
A photograph shared by Etta shows McKellen holding a copy of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings alongside a young fan. Another shows him in the kitchen alongside staff.
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