Home Top

Pictured: Purple Heart recipient who served two tours in Iraq is identified as one of the four Marines shot dead in Chattanooga terror attack by gunman Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez
'I told them I loved them and that it would be OK': Teen who survived a plane crash tells how she braved blaze as she desperately tried to free her screaming grandparents from the wreckage
George Bush is 'already out of bed' after breaking bone in his neck but his doctor reveals it will take four months to heal
From DUI arrest with white powder around his nose to devout Islamic blogging: The extremes of Marine killer Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez's life
'I will never forget the silhouette of the gun': Survivors of the Dark Knight massacre call for the death penalty as James Holmes is found guilty on ALL 165 charges
Obama snubs the Waldorf Astoria for his NYC visit amid fears the hotel is bugged by the Chinese, breaking a presidential tradition started when Hoover was in the White House
Furious road rage driver meets his match when victim fights back and pins him to the ground with ease before calling the police
US inspectors will be banned from all Iranian nuclear sites under controversial deal amid warnings 'only American experts can tell if they are cheating'
Are YOU a narcissist? Take this test to discover if you have an out-sized ego that needs to be tamed
ISIS film a CHILD carrying out a beheading for the first time: 'Cub of the Caliphate' is the first seen executing a prisoner by decapitation as the terror group increasingly use boys to kill
'There but for the grace of God': Obama visits federal prison in Oklahoma and says nonviolent drug criminals 'made mistakes that aren't that different from the mistakes I made'
Hillary Clinton proposes businesses that share profits with their employees receive 15% tax credits
Former Marine who strangled his stepfather with 'atomic wedgie' for insulting his mother is jailed for 30 years
Eye shadow on the scalp, toothbrush to tease and conditioner BEFORE shampoo: Easy hair hacks every woman should know
How far will your dollars stretch? Real value of $100 in each state is revealed and the difference could be as much as $30
Missing cobra believed to have killed teen pet shop worker is found dead
Man is arrested on suspicion of stealing $30 in a heist at a LEMONADE STAND after teenage girls gave him a free drink because he had no money
$Members of the National Socialist Movement and the Adirondack Fraternity White Knights, a group that claims affiliation with the Ku Klux Klan, take part in a cross and swastika lighting ceremony at a private residence in Hunt County, Texas, November 9, 2014. The Ku Klux Klan, which had about 6 million members in the 1920s, now has some 2,000 to 3,000 members nationally in about 72 chapters, or klaverns, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization that monitors extremist groups. REUTERS/Johnny Milano\nPICTURE 30 OF 34 FOR WIDER IMAGE STORY "INSIDE THE KU KLUX KLAN"\nSEARCH "MILANO KKK" FOR ALL PICTURES$ Inside the KKK: Chilling images reveal how white supremacists are still carrying out cross burnings and 'sacred rituals' hidden from society across the U.S.
Some people really ARE born with a sweet tooth: Genes mean some of us DO need more sugar to get the same hit
The woman trapped in a real life Groundhog Day: Mother repeatedly relives the same day after fainting and hitting her head on a pole
Johnny Depp criticized for letting 16-year-old daughter pose seductively in Chanel's 'baby doll' video shot by Karl Lagerfeld, 81, who called her 'ravishing'
It's war against The Donald as Rick Perry says Trump is spewing 'a toxic mix of demagoguery and nonsense' on border security -- but the billionaire is still leading in national polls
EXCLUSIVE: More ammo for Trump: How housing an illegal immigrant for a night in the United States' biggest detention center costs more than a stay at the nearest four-star Hilton Hotel
Prison Break drug lord El Chapo had an 18-MINUTE headstart before anyone realized he had escaped into mile long tunnel

Mischief in Middle Earth! Sir Ian McKellen admits he swiped 'precious' souvenirs from the Lord of the Rings film set

Published: 05:58 EST, 17 July 2015 | Updated: 07:10 EST, 17 July 2015

View
comments

He starred as Gandalf in the blockbuster Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit movies.

And Sir Ian McKellen has revealed he couldn't resist swiping a little souvenir from his time on set in New Zealand, and sneakily pocketed a few pennies that were used as props in the epic adventure fantasy films.

The 76-year-old actor admitted he'd snaffled some one-of-a-kind golden coins used to adorn fire-breathing dragon Smaug's metallic lair, as well as the key to hobbit Bilbo Baggins' Bag End home after filming wrapped on the trilogy.

Scroll down for video

Cheeky smiles: Ian McKellen has admitted sneakily taking away momentos from the sets of the three Lord of the Rings flicks, which were filmed in various locations across the world including New Zealand

The thespian admitted his acts during an online chat on Reddit.

When quizzed about his favourite memory from the sets of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King, he said there were 'many'.

He then revealed: 'And I think my favorite set, that I didn't act in, was the golden Liar, where the dragon was hiding. Hundreds of thousands of golden coins, specially made.

'And if you don't tell anyone, I can tell you that I have some of those coins.'

Epic trailer for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Wily Wizard: Sir Ian in character as Gandalf - the leader of The Fellowship of the Ring - with his signature silver beard and hefty staff

Middle Earth mates: The actor plays Gandalf alongside Elijah Wood as Frodo in the film trilogy directed by Peter Jackson

And fellow LOTR character Bilbo Baggins may well be scuppered if he decides to return back to the Shire.

Because the iconic filmstar also hid the front door key to the pocket-sized hero's green-doored home tucked away inside his flowing robes.

He told Reddit users of his haul and said: 'Along with the font door key to Bag End, which i know Peter Jackson is looking for, but will never find.'

As owner of east London pub The Grapes, perhaps the star nabbed the souvenirs as some new trinkets to house behind the bar.

Giggling Gandalf: The cheery thespian revealed his scoops from set during an online chat with website users on Reddit

I've got the key: The man behind Gandalf also pocketed the key to Bilbo Baggins' Bag End home - something he said director Peter Jackson had since been hunting for

Fans on the forum also quizzed Ian on his time as a wizard in the Peter Jackson directed trilogy, which was followed up by the release of flick The Hobbit.

Another user asked him whether he would prefer to tackle 100 Hobbit-sized Balrogs - demons of terror - or a single Balrog-sized Hobbit.

The veteran star replied: 'I would never fight a Hobbit, no matter his size. So I would have to go with the first. 100 Hobbit-sized Balrogs is easy. Easy.'

The Mr Holmes official teaser trailer starring Sir Ian McKellen

Taking on a new role: The role of Mr Holmes is the next of the actor's big screen appearances

After delving into his experiences in Middle Earth it was back to reality as he graced the red carpet for the New York premiere of Mr Holmes on Monday, a film in which he plays the protagonist.

Opting for a quirky smart casual style, he paired white Converse sneakers with a black two-piece suit, monochrome top and jazzy print scarf for the showbiz gathering.

He was pictured smiling and chatting with co-star Laura Linney at the star-studded after party.

Ian McKellen portrays Sherlock as frail old man in Mr Holmes