Sir Ian McKellen health update as co-star admits it's 'good thing' he's 'taking break'

Sir Ian McKellen's co-star has given a frank health update on the esteemed actor following his on-stage fall.

The Shakespearean legend sustained a chipped vertebra and fractured wrist after falling during a performance of Player Kings in London. He confirmed he will be taking a brief hiatus from acting but has no plans to retire he will return.

Now, during an appearance on The One Show, his film co-star Gemma Arterton has provided further insight into what a "break" for Sir Ian truly entails. The pair star together in the film The Critic.

Presenter Roman Kemp initiated the segment, stating: "There was some nice positive news yesterday, Sir Ian has said that he's going to obviously be taking a break."

However, Welsh host Alex Jones interjected to ask: "Is that positive news?", reports Wales Online.

Roman encouraged her: "Hang on, not there yet! He's going to be taking a break from acting after his fall on-stage but he's not going to be retiring, he's going to be coming back."

Turning to Gemma, he asked: "What was it like working with him?"

Gemma shared some candid insights about the actor, explaining: "Taking a break for Ian is actually a good thing, because he works non-stop. He has such an energy and zest and loves his work and loves life. So taking two months off is what normal people would do."

"But honestly it was one of the biggest privileges of my career working with him. He is just the loveliest, warmest... but he pinches himself every day that he's able to do this job."

"It's hard to think that because he's an icon, but he's so down to earth and glad to be there, and that's why, I guess, he works all the time. He just loves the work."

In a recent interview with Sky News, Sir Ian revealed that "everything is physically mended", adding that he is "mobile, pain free and ready to go" at the age of 85.

However, speaking about his fall, the Lord of the Rings star confessed: "I felt ashamed of myself, I felt I let the audience down and I felt guilty."

Fortunately, the actor, who was portraying John Falstaff in the play, was wearing a fat suit for the role, which protected his joints when he fell at the Noel Coward Theatre.