 Later in 1993 , McKellan appeared in the television film And the Band Played On , about the discovery of the AIDS virus , for which McKellen won a CableACE Award for Supporting Actor in a Movie or Miniseries and was nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie . In 1995 , he played the title role in Richard III , which transported the setting into an alternative 1930s in which England is ruled by fascists . The film was a critical success . McKellen co @-@ produced and co @-@ wrote the film , adapting the play for the screen based on a stage production of Shakespeare 's play directed by Richard Eyre for the Royal National Theatre , in which McKellen had appeared . As executive producer he returned his £ 50 @,@ 000 fee to complete the filming of the final battle . In his review of the film , Washington Post film critic Hal Hinson , called McKellen 's performance a " lethally flamboyant incarnation " , and said his " florid mastery ... dominates everything " . His performance in the title role garnered BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor , and won the European Film Award for Best Actor . His screenplay was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay . 
