While promoting ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’, Sir Ian McKellen said that as a gay man, he relates to the struggles faced by the fictional mutants.

For those who have seen any film in the X-Men franchise, it’s easy to see where he draws the comparison. In the movies, mutants are outcasts and are struggling to be accepted and treat as equals, which he says that he can relate to. He told BBC that X-Men director Bryan Singer, who is bisexual, used this point to convince him to take the role.

The openly gay acting legend, who plays Magneto in the franchise said, “When Bryan Singer asked me to be in these films he sold it to me on just this point: as a gay man you can identify with mutants – people who have talents [but] are despised by society as they’re different,” he said.

“In many areas of the world being gay is still a mutancy which is clearly not tolerated in some societies. You can be put to death for your sexuality. Not in this country. We have advanced – it’s been one of the great joys of my life – since these films have been made.”

Watch the trailer for X-Men: Days Of Future Past below.