The Wait Is Over! Star Ian McKellen Answers the Ultimate Godot Question

Does Godot exist? That has been the question (among many questions) for audiences of Samuel Beckett’s masterpiece Waiting for Godot since it premiered in 1953. So… Does he? Ian McKellen, who plays Estragon in the play, knows. The actor confidently responded to the question when he visited Broadway.com’s Times Square studio with Godot and No Man’s Land co-star Patrick Stewart, who plays Vladimir.

“He certainly exists,” McKellen said. “He’s a farmer. He has goats and sheep. And he doesn’t treat his employees very well.” The actor went on to describe evidence of play’s absent title character, and then added, “He doesn’t keep his appointments. He’s a thoroughly unreliable person. And Beckett doesn’t want you to be interested in him whatsoever. But he exists.”

Stewart agreed with his co-star, but turned to McKellen and said, “I have a feeling that answer is going to follow you for the rest of your life.”

Look for more answers to your questions, when the Ask a Star feature on the pair of Sirs premieres on January 3.