He's starred as the wizard Gandalf, the mutant anti-hero Magneto, and even Sherlock Holmes, but he feels at home in Manchester when a taxi driver says one word.
Sir Ian McKellen has had quite a life. Over six decades, he's won a Golden Globe, a Tony award, and six Laurence Olivier awards, as well as being nominated for two Oscars and five BAFTAs. He's been at the centre of two of the biggest film franchises in Hollywood, and received a knighthood in 1991 for his acting.
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He's also received accolades for his activism. He came out as gay in 1988, and was made a Companion of Honour for his services to equality, championing LGBT+ rights across the world. He's even led the Manchester Pride parade...
But how much do you know about this local hero, who was born in Lancashire, but brought up in Wigan and Bolton? Take our quiz challenge and find out. You might even discover what that taxi driver said to Sir Ian...
If you can't see the quiz below, you can open it in a new window. And let us know in the comments section how well you did.
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