10:26AM, Jul 13, 2005
It has long been known that David Beckham's good looks and style have made him a gay icon.
But his latest fan is a man you'd expect to be learning Shakespeare lines rather than appreciating the beauty of the English football captain.
Sir Ian McKellen - who played Gandalf in The Lord Of The Rings trilogy - met Becks backstage at Live 8 and was full of praise for him.
"David Beckham is a beautiful man. He's got a nice smile. I spoke to him at a party. He's a gay icon and I know he likes it," the openly gay actor said.
A source told The Sun that David is chuffed by his big gay following.
"David was really flattered when Ian told him how popular he is.
"David's a big Lord Of The Rings fan so it meant a lot to him. Ian thought David was absolutely charming," the source revealed.
Sir Ian recently appeared in Coronation Street as a scheming conman - after a career full of Shakespeare plays and Hollywood blockbusters such as X Men.
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