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The beginning -

Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen actually became close while playing enemies on-screen, back in 2000.

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'X-Men' (2000) -

Their friendship began on the set of the ‘X-Men’ movie, with Stewart playing Charles Xavier and McKellen playing Magneto.

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Drinking buddies -

Stewart revealed that they got close off-camera, as they had adjoining trailers and would spend the day “drinking tea—and maybe in the afternoon, something a little stronger—and we got to know one another.”

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A rocky start -

The actors initially met at the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1970s. However, they weren’t close. McKellen was already one of the stars, and Stewart apparently found him intimidating!

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McKellen married Stewart -

...but not in the way you might think! McKellen performed the wedding ceremony and married Stewart and his wife, Sunny Ozell, in 2013.

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A return to the stage -

They starred together after ‘X-Men’ as well, returning to the stage with Broadway repertory productions of Samuel Becket’s 'Waiting for Godot' and Harold Pinter's 'No Man’s Land.'

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Acting as an escape -

Both have used acting as an escape in their life. McKellen hid his sexuality until the late ‘80s, using acting as a form of solace. Stewart, on the other hand, used it as a way of escaping his home life, as he had an abusive father.

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Some bad advice -

McKellen was the only person to tell Patrick Stewart not to play Captain Picard on ‘Star Trek.’ Luckily, Stewart ignored that advice!

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Equals not rivals -

In an interview with CBS News, Stewart and McKellen agree that they’re the “same actor,” and that they have had essentially the same career. They call themselves equals and not rivals.

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The Sirs -

They even have a BFF nickname: The Sirs. This is in honor of the fact that both of them have been knighted.

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Sports rivalry -

The two have been known to watch sporting events together. Stewart posted a comical photo before the 2014 Super Bowl, with him in a Seahawks jersey and McKellen in a Broncos jersey. Real fans, or just having a laugh? You decide.

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Sports fans -

More than fans of football, the two also watch NBA games together. Here they are at a New York Knicks vs. Dallas Mavericks game.

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#FriendshipGoals -

When asked to write hashtags to summarize their bromance, Stewart wrote #arentwelucky, and McKellen came up with #eternal. Awwww.

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They're in love -

While answering the web’s frequently asked questions on Wired, Stewart stated that McKellen was a friend “who, I’ll be frank with you, I’m in love with.”

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His wife doesn't mind -

Don’t worry about Stewart’s romantic relationship, however, as he also stated that his wife was in love with McKellen as well. He revealed in a 2016 interview that his wife even encourages their bromance!

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Close in age -

The two are only about a year apart in age, with Stewart born in July 1940 and McKellen born in May 1939.

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Constant support -

They are constantly there for one another, whether it’s premieres or awards ceremonies. Here is McKellen presenting Stewart with an award at the Three Empire Awards in 2017.

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They're really into PDA -

There are countless photos of the two holding hands, embracing, and snuggling up together.

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Kisses -

McKellen and Stewart shared their first very public kiss at the premiere of 'Mr. Holmes' back in 2015. At the time, it made headlines. However, now it's a commonplace occurrence in their close friendship.

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Instagram models -

They did a joint interview with Seth Meyers back in 2014, with Meyers gushing that they "maybe have the most chemistry on Instagram of anyone I've ever seen."

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Social media -

And there's good reason for that. Patrick Stewart's social media is filled with hilarious photos of the two together, both at press events and just cuddling each other.

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Visit from a fairy godmother -

McKellen had Stewart cracking up at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards in 2016, when he showed up on stage dressed as a fairy godmother.

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'The Graham Norton Show' -

McKellen surprised both Stewart and Hugh Jackman when he appeared during their interview on 'The Graham Norton Show' in 2017.

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Can't tell themselves apart -

They are quick to embrace and hold hands. McKellen later states that they're so similar that sometimes he thinks he is Patrick Stewart!

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They receive awards separately... -

...and together! McKellen and Stewart won awards for their pairing in 'Waiting for Godot' at the 2010 Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards.

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Protest sign -

When McKellen attended the Women's March in 2017, he held up a picture of Stewart as a facepalming Captain Picard from 'Star Trek.'

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They failed at the Newlywed Game -

Nothing is more endearing than watching these two attempt to answer personal questions about each other during a round of the Newlywed Game—and failing miserably.

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Special days with family -

They even spend their holidays together! Stewart has posted several times about spending his birthday or New Year's Eve with McKellen.

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A surprise proposal -

McKellen attended the ‘Star Trek: Picard’ premiere in January 2020, and surprised everyone with a comical proposal! Stewart quickly accepted and they shared a kiss.

Sources: (CBS News) (Mirror) (Today) (Channel 4 News) (Wired) (BuzzFeed)

See also: Learn all about how these celebrities proposed 

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