Why Ian McKellen turned to Shakespeare on Colbert’s show to warn Americans

Heartbreaking reports about the protests against immigrants have been surfacing day after day. In a report from Al Jazeera, around 11,000 people gathered in London to protest against the immigrants, and things got messy. Actor Ian McKellen was not too pleased about the situation. Appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, he expressed his sorrow about the whole act. In the clip shared on February 5, 2026, the “Lord of the Rings” actor also shared a popular Shakespeare monologue from Sir Thomas More, Act II, Scene 4, as reported by Out Magazine. McKellen's performance simply couldn't be more relevant today. 

McKellen explained how the script was written in a setting where riots were happening in London. The reason? The locals wanted immigrants to leave. Calling them strangers, they were against the idea of them coexisting in the same country. The character, a lawyer, Thomas More, presents the monologue as an appeal to the people to explore “humanity,” as McKellen revealed. Sitting at the show, he was encouraged to perform the monologue and got a kickstart from the audience. On his request, they enacted, shouting, “The strangers should be removed.”

Powerfully appearing in character, he began making a case — not for immigrants, just for humanity. “Grant them removed, and grant that this your noise hath chid down all the majesty of England,” he said aloud, before asking them to imagine the plight. “Imagine that you see the wretched strangers, their babies at their backs with their poor luggage, plodding to the ports and coasts for transportation,” he remarked. With his dialogue, he then called out the “kings” and leaders, asking what their rule echoed. “How insolence and strong hand should prevail, how order should be quelled,” is all it exercised. 

Marking each phrase with meticulous diction, tone, and personality, the actor continued, “Wash your foul minds with tears, and those same hands that you like rebels lift against the peace. Lift up for peace, and your unreverent knees, make them your feet to kneel to be forgiven!” The plea asked people to be compassionate and reflect on how killing these “strangers” and tormenting them would hold no fortune. Then, a challenging question was set — “Say now the king should so much come too short of your great trespass, as but to banish you, whether would you go?” 

The monologue proudly revealed that this case would reduce the locals to “strangers.” And then how would they expect to be treated? “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, whet their detested knives against your throats, spurn you like dogs, and, as if that God owed not nor made not you?” McKellen confidently asked. Concluding his powerful performance, he finished the monologue saying, “This is the stranger’s case; And this is your mountainish inhumanity." Really makes one ponder, doesn’t it? 

If you look at the crux of this exceptional script, it stands true even today. What would we, proud citizens, do if we were asked to go elsewhere? And should this happen, what then can we expect from immigrants whom we have treated as nothing but inferiors? With this challenging thought in mind, Shakespeare and McKellen ask just for humanity, a little kindness, and a little understanding. The script, around 400 years old, also held special importance for McKellen. The “X-Men” actor took on the role and skilfully delivered the monologue back in 1964, when the play premiered on stage.

The actor noted that the play never made it to action during the writer’s time due to its “seditious” nature. “It had its actual premiere on stage in 1964, the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth, and  I played Thomas More, so you are looking at a man who created a part by William Shakespeare,” he proudly added. In a study published by Sage Journals, it was revealed that kindness and humanity are needed now more than ever in a highly divisive society. But there are perks for the giver along with the receiver. The study noted that “being empathic with others and being able to regulate one's emotions,” thereby improving overall regulation to increase “creativity and focus.” Furthermore, kindness was described as a “lifelong developmental task” that can help a person achieve their best potential and become the best version of themselves. “Emphasizing the more gentle part of our nature can also help to balance self-interest with the needs of others,” thus making the world a better place to live in. 

People were encouraged and inspired by McKellen's powerful and flawless call to be humane. @theamyanderson said, “I wonder who will be doing this monologue 400 years from now. Will we ever learn?” @grweg_jenner added, “Ageless poetry delivered by one of the greats — a call for common humanity echoing through the centuries.” 

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