LONDON (UK) – British actor Ian McKellen, who is known for his portrayal of wizard Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings franchise, said he was euphoric after receiving the first dose of the coronavirus shot developed by Pfizer and urged everyone to accept it.
The National Health Service (NHS) posted photographs of McKellen, clad in a blue T-shirt and a rainbow striped scarf, giving a thumbs up when he received the vaccine.
“It’s a very special day. I feel euphoric,” McKellen, 81, was quoted as saying in an NHS tweet.
“I would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone. I feel very lucky to have had the vaccination.”
Since it was rolled out on December 8, as many as 140,000 people have received their first dose of the shot. Those above 80 are in the highest priority group.
The actor, who has been active on TV and the big screen since the 1960s, shot to international acclaim in the 2000s when he essayed the role of Gandalf in the movies based on the novels of JRR Tolkien and directed by Peter Jackson.
He is the latest celebrity in the country to go public after receiving the vaccination.
Chef and cookery writer Prue Leith, 80, who presents “The Great British Bake Off”, which enjoys high ratings, also posted a picture of herself getting the shot.