When it comes to activism, some of us tweet, some of us march, and then there’s Ian McKellen—who just casually drops a Shakespearean bombshell on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. That’s right—Sir Ian took the stage and performed a 400-year-old pro-immigrant monologue, and yes, it was as iconic as it sounds.
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Shakespeare, but Make It Timely
You’d think a Shakespeare monologue would be about as relevant as an old-school quill pen, right? Wrong. McKellen showed us that art always has something to say about the issues we face today. While discussing the protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis, McKellen gave us a masterclass in tying the past to the present.
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@colbertlateshow Leave it to Shakespeare and Ian McKellen to so eloquently speak of man’s mountainish inhumanity. See Ian McKellan in AN ARK, a new play for mixed reality, at @The Shed now! #Colbert #IanMcKellen #Shakespeare #ThomasMore
He pointed out the eerie parallels between the 16th century and today’s world, saying, “It’s all happening 400 years ago.” In Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More, mobs in London were rioting against “strangers” (aka immigrants). And what did Thomas More do? He not only told them to shut it, but also gave them a lesson in humanity. Sound familiar?
McKellen: Shakespeare with a Purpose
Of course, this is Sir Ian McKellen we’re talking about, so when he says, “Let me just perform this speech for you,” you know it’s going to be extra. McKellen didn’t just deliver lines—he acted. He stood up, filled the room with gravitas, and laid down lines like:
“Imagine that you see the wretched strangers, Their babies at their backs and their poor luggage, Plodding to the ports and coasts for transportation.”
If that didn’t give you chills, check your pulse.
He continued with, “Would you be pleased, to find a nation of such barbarous temper, That, breaking out in hideous violence, would not afford you an abode on earth?” Oof. Thank you, Shakespeare, but we’ll take it from here.
The Shakespearean Slay of the Year
Cue standing ovation. The audience erupted with applause, because, of course they did. McKellen had just reminded us that even in times of chaos, art can still knock some sense into us. And leave it to Ian to deliver it in true diva fashion—because what is Shakespeare if not a bit extra, a bit fabulous?
The show’s Instagram account captioned the post with: “Leave it to Shakespeare and @ianmckellen to so eloquently speak of man’s mountainish inhumanity.” Yes, Instagram. Yes.
Old School, New Fight
But here’s the kicker: McKellen’s performance wasn’t just a history lesson. It was a modern-day rallying cry. His take on Sir Thomas More was a reminder that our fight for compassion and inclusion is not new—it’s as old as time. And with artists like McKellen standing up, we’re reminded that empathy is timeless.
Plus, it’s not like the man needs to do this for the attention. But hey, when you’re Ian McKellen and you still have the power to stir the masses with a Shakespearean monologue, you might as well use it for good, right?
A Perfect Shakespeare Remix
So, what did we learn from Sir Ian McKellen’s Late Show performance? That art, even when it’s centuries old, can speak to the present in ways nothing else can. And while it might have been 400 years since Shakespeare penned those words, it feels like McKellen is telling us to get our act together before history repeats itself. You know it’s a good performance when it reminds you why standing up for immigrants is always the right choice.
If you missed it, go watch the clip—and be prepared to add Shakespeare to your protest playlist.
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