A few days ago, we discussed the seemingly out-of-nowhere British actor-beef between Damian Lewis and Sir Ian McKellen. Back in October, Damian gave an interview to The Guardian where he was discussing his early theater days and his dreams of doing TV and film work, and how worried he was that a film and TV career would never happen. He lamented the “idea that I would be one of these slightly over-the-top, fruity actors who would have an illustrious career on stage, but wouldn’t start getting any kind of film work until I was 50 and then start playing wizards.”

Obviously, that was taken as a rather pointed slam against McKellen, who got around to saying something this week as he promoted The Desolation of Smaug. McKellen basically said that he was proud of his career in films and theater and that he’s glad film success didn’t come to him until later in his life. What I loved about McKellen’s reaction is that he didn’t whip out his IMDB or make some long list of his achievements – he’s an acting legend and he knows that we know that. Anyway, Damian must have heard (or been told) about Ian’s reaction because Damian came out and issued a public apology, and apparently he’s apologized to Sir Ian in private as well:

The Homeland actor Damian Lewis has apologised to Sir Ian McKellen after saying he did not want to end up a “fruity actor” who is known for playing wizards.

Lewis, 42, admitted he was “hugely embarrassed” after McKellen, 74, who plays the wizard Gandalf in the Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit films, responsed acerbically in the Radio Times.

Lewis issued a statement on Wednesday night, saying: “I am hugely embarrassed that comments of mine have been linked in a negative way to Sir Ian McKellen. I have always been, and continue to be, an enormous fan and admirer of Sir Ian’s. He’s one of the greats and one of the reasons I became an actor. My comment in the Guardian was a soundbite I’ve been giving since 1999 – it was a generic analogy that was never intended to demean or describe anyone else’s career. I have contacted Sir Ian McKellen and have given him my sincerest apologies.”

McKellen, one of Britain’s best-loved stage and screen actors with a career spanning decades, admitted that his performance in this year’s critically panned ITV sitcom Vicious was “over the top” but added that “no one needs to feel sorry for me” after Lewis described one of the reasons why he wanted to break out of the theatre.

[From The Guardian]

See, I kind of think Damian’s apology (both public and private) is fine. I take him at his word that he wasn’t trying to pointedly denigrate Sir Ian. If you’ve read enough of Damian’s interviews, you get the hang of his rather blunt style of speaking, his acerbic wit and his lack of ass-kissing niceties. Damian’s gotten in trouble for this kind of thing before, and I think that’s just what this was – he was trying to be self-effacing and he came across as almost snide. Plus, this is a good lesson for other celebrities who speak out of turn – issue a heartfelt apology (wrapped in a sincere compliment to the person you’ve offended) as you clarify your remarks which may or may not have been misinterpreted. Damian gets bonus points from me for not blaming The Guardian for “misquoting” him.

Photos courtesy of WENN.