Ian McKellen questions Hamnet’s “improbable” plot – but predicts Oscars success

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Sir Ian McKellen is one of the most experienced Shakespearean actors performing today, having brought many of the Bard’s famous characters to life on stage throughout his career.

Sir Ian McKellen, famous for his role in The Lord of the Rings, recently shared that he wasn’t a fan of the movie Hamnet. The film explores the possible events leading up to the death of William Shakespeare’s son and proposes that this loss may have been the inspiration behind Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet.

Critics have overwhelmingly praised the film, especially Jessie Buckley’s performance as Agnes Shakespeare – often known as Anne. However, Ian McKellen wasn’t as impressed.

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“I’m really struggling to understand it,” he told The Independent. “I don’t care much about figuring out the origins of Shakespeare’s ideas, but it’s clear his family life wasn’t the sole source of his inspiration.”

Although Ian McKellen believes the film will probably win at least one Oscar next month, he also pointed out some unlikely parts of the story. He compared it to the 1999 Best Picture winner, Shakespeare in Love, noting that film also took liberties with how plays are actually produced.

He went on to say that Shakespeare is likely the most famous person in history, so it’s natural people are curious about his appearance and family life.

It’s hard to believe Anne Hathaway has never been to a play, especially given her husband’s profession. She honestly seemed unsure about what a play even is, which seems really unlikely. There are definitely some questions about how true that story is.

It’s important to remember that Hamnet is a work of historical fiction, not a completely accurate portrayal of Shakespeare’s family. The author, Maggie O’Farrell, points this out in an afterword to the book.

She explained that the story was a fictional account, but it was sparked by the brief life of a boy who passed away in Stratford-upon-Avon during the summer of 1596.

The film Hamnet has received eight Academy Award nominations, and Jessie Buckley is the strong frontrunner to win Best Actress. While Buckley is heavily favored, Hamnet will be competing against films like Sinners and One Battle After Another in other categories, including the coveted Best Picture award.

In our TopMob review, we gave the film a perfect five-star rating, describing it as a brilliantly crafted exploration of grief and praising Buckley’s outstanding performance as the lead actor.

Hamnet is now showing in UK cinemas.

Authors

Patrick CremonaSenior Film Writer

Patrick Cremona is TopMob’s Senior Film Writer, covering new movies released in theaters and on streaming services. He’s been with the site since October 2019, and during that time has interviewed many famous actors and reviewed films of all types.

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2026-02-15 14:04