Frank Langella as Lear in the Chichester Festival Theatre production, 2013 Photograph: Johan Persson
Ian McKellen gave one of the most high-profile performances as Lear in recent years. The RSC production transferred to London, toured the world and was filmed. The screen version preserved McKellen’s modesty; his stripping off in the storm scene on stage almost had as much attention as Daniel Radcliffe’s appearance in Equus Photograph: Tristram Kenton
Nigel Hawthorne was 70 when he played Lear at the Barbican in 1999. The RSC production was mounted by Japanese director Yukio Ninagawa Photograph: Tristram Kenton
