SIR Ian McKellen today summed up the film success of Lord Of The Rings and admitted: "For the first time in my life I am really famous!"

And the Burnley-born actor could be up against himself in a blockbuster box office battle of the white-bearded wizards next Christmas.

Sir Ian, 63, is rumoured to have been offered the role of Albus Dumbledore in the third Harry Potter film, The Prisoner of Azkaban.

That is being released at the same time as the final instalment of the Lord of the Rings, Return of the King, in which he continues to play Gandalf.

Film producers are looking for a new Dumbledore following the death of Richard Harris in October. He had played the role of the Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry headmaster in the first two Harry Potter films.

Sir Ian may be seen as the perfect replacement because he wore Gandalf's long-white beard with distinction as well as capturing the wizard's enigmatic authority. Albus Dumbledore has a similar appearance and character in Harry Potter.

He is currently experiencing unprecedented success following the release of The Two Towers, the second of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

His personal website was the fourth busiest in the world last week -- and it's all a far cry from his humble beginnings in East Lancashire.

He was born in Burnley General Hospital on May 25 1939. His father Dennis worked as an engineer for the borough council.

The family's home in Scott Park Road, Burnley, now bears a commemorative plaque. Sir Ian moved from Burnley to Wigan before he was of school age.

His developed his talents for acting as a teenager when the family relocated again to Bolton. Since, he has earned more than 40 acting awards and was knighted in 1991 for services to performing arts.

Until recently, he was best known for theatre appearances and television dramas, but roles in X-Men and the Lord of Rings have propelled him to global recognition.

He said: "For the first time in my life I am famous. I mean really famous. I quite like it but I expect it is a temporary phenomenon.

"I mean, I can't walk down the street any more without being stopped. Whether it be in New York, or in Vancouver. Everywhere you go it is the same.

"So you get a little glimpse of what it is like to be really famous. But I'm not really famous -- Gandalf is famous. I am the man who played Gandalf. It's not me. I am Gandalf's representative."