Sir Ian McKellen Is 'Pain-Free' After Stage Fall, But Still Dealing with It 'Emotionally'; 'I Felt Ashamed'

The beloved actor said he’s “taking a bit of a rest” before returning to work

Sir Ian McKellen says "everything is physically mended" after his June 17 hospitalization following afall off the stage, mid-performance, in London.

The actor, 85, was in the midst of Player Kings, a production of Henry IV, at the Noël Coward theater, when he reportedly lost his footing during a fight scene, which left him with a chipped vertebrae and fractured wrist.

But while McKellen told Sky News that he’s "mobile, pain-free and ready to go," he shared that he’s still "having to deal with it emotionally."

"I felt ashamed of myself, I felt I let the audience down and I felt guilty," McKellen said.

Related: Ian McKellen Says His Life 'Changed for the Better' After He Came Out as Gay

McKellen, who previously said that he wouldn’t be returning to Player Kings, told Sky News that he’s decided to take "a bit of a rest" before returning to work, telling the outlet that "I'm just aware there isn't much time left and so I'm giving myself three months off instead of six months, I don't need six months."

The actor previously said that “I avoid going out because I’m nervous someone might bump into me, and I’ve been dealing with agonizing pain in my shoulders due to the jolt my body took.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

He also shared that the costume he wore on stage may have prevented him from sustaining further injuries, adding “the fat suit I wore for [my Player Kings character, Sir John] Falstaff saved my ribs and other joints, so I consider myself lucky.”

Related: Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart Are the Best Best Friends Ever, and We've Got the Proof

While he’s taking a break, McKellen — who famously played Magneto in the X-Men franchise and Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings series —  is still promoting his latest film, The Critic, and said that he’s had to repeatedly talk about his injury.

"There was such a hoo-ha in the press, it was as if I'd died and I was reading my own obituaries!” he told Sky News. “I must say there were some very nice ones but it wasn't as bad as it sounded."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.