The openly gay Oscar nominated "Lord of the Rings" actor Sir Ian McKellen is appreciative of David Beckham's good looks.

According to the Daily Mail, Sir McKellen met the English football captain backstage at Live 8 and was full of praise for him.

He said: "David Beckham is a beautiful man. He's got a nice smile. I spoke to him at a party. He's a gay icon and I know he likes it."

A source who spoke to The Sun said: "David was really flattered when Ian told him how popular he is. David's a big 'Lord Of The Rings' fan so it meant a lot to him. Ian thought David was absolutely charming."