▁and ▁was ▁nominated ▁for ▁the ▁Em my ▁Award ▁for ▁Out standing ▁Support ing ▁A ctor ▁in ▁a ▁Min is eries ▁or ▁a ▁Movie . ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 5 , ▁he ▁played ▁the ▁title ▁role ▁in ▁Richard ▁III , ▁which ▁transport ed ▁the ▁setting ▁into ▁an ▁alternative ▁ 1 9 3 0 s ▁in ▁which ▁England ▁is ▁ruled ▁by ▁fasc ists . ▁The ▁film ▁was ▁a ▁critical ▁success . ▁McK ellen ▁co - produ ced ▁and ▁co - w rote ▁the ▁film , ▁adapt ing ▁the ▁play ▁for ▁the ▁screen ▁based ▁on ▁a ▁stage ▁production ▁of ▁Shakespeare ' s ▁play ▁directed ▁by ▁Richard ▁E y re ▁for ▁the ▁Royal ▁National ▁Theatre ▁in ▁which ▁McK ellen ▁had ▁appeared . ▁As ▁executive ▁producer ▁he ▁returned ▁his ▁£ 5 0 , 0 0 0 ▁fee ▁to ▁complete ▁the ▁film ing ▁of ▁the ▁final ▁battle . ▁In ▁his ▁review ▁of ▁the ▁film , ▁The ▁Washington ▁Post ▁film ▁critic ▁Hal ▁Hin son ▁called ▁McK ellen ' s ▁performance ▁a ▁" le th ally ▁fl am boy ant ▁inc arn ation " ▁and ▁said ▁his ▁" fl or id ▁master y ▁... ▁domin ates ▁everything ". ▁His ▁performance ▁in ▁the ▁title ▁role ▁gar ner ed ▁B AF TA ▁and ▁Golden ▁Glo be ▁nomin ations ▁for ▁Best ▁A ctor ▁and ▁won ▁the ▁European ▁Film ▁Award ▁for ▁Best ▁A ctor . ▁His ▁screen play ▁was ▁nominated ▁for ▁the ▁B AF TA ▁Award ▁for ▁Best ▁Ada pt ed ▁Screen play . ▁ ▁He ▁appeared ▁in ▁the ▁mod est ly ▁acc laimed