On February 4, celebrated actor Ian McKellen appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, delivering a powerful message on the dehumanization of immigrants during an extended interview. The acclaimed Tony winner also revisited one of his unique career highlights: originating a Shakespearean role, an unusual accomplishment given that William Shakespeare passed away over 400 years ago. This Ian McKellen Shakespearean performance commanded attention as he shared rare insights from his stage work.
The Story Behind the Shakespearean Speech
McKellen explained that while Shakespeare authored 37 plays alone, he also contributed to others’ works. He highlighted one speech from a play titled Sir Thomas More, notable because it is the only surviving sample of Shakespeare’s own handwriting on a play’s text. The play itself was never staged during Shakespeare’s lifetime due to its controversial nature; it was deemed too seditious at the time.
Shakespeare wrote many plays, 37 of them by himself, but he also contributed to other people’s shows. And one of the speeches he wrote, for a play called Sir Thomas More has been preserved, and it’s the only sample of his actual handwriting of some of the words of a play by him,
Ian McKellen explained.
It was not until 1964, marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth, that Sir Thomas More had its stage premiere. McKellen himself portrayed the lead role, Thomas More, making him one of the few living actors who have created a character originally penned by Shakespeare.
The play was never performed during Shakespeare’s lifetime, because it was thought to be a bit seditious. 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.
A Rare and Passionate Live Performance
Amid applause from the studio audience, McKellen smiled and encouraged viewers to appreciate the speech, noting its rarity and importance. After some urging, he agreed to deliver the speech live, nearly 62 years after first performing it at Nottingham Playhouse.
It’s a speech you probably don’t know, but you ought to because it’s a wonderful speech.
Ian McKellen said, inviting the audience to listen closely.
He introduced the historical context behind the piece: a London riot condemning immigrants, referred to as “strangers” by the mob. The authorities send the young lawyer Thomas More to disperse the crowd, who not only enforces the law but appeals to their shared humanity.
It’s all happening 400 years ago. In London, there’s a riot happening. There’s a mob out in the streets and they’re complaining about the presence of strangers in London, by which they mean immigrants who’ve arrived there. And they’re shouting and complaining and saying that the immigrants should be sent back home, wherever they came from. And the authorities send out this young lawyer, Thomas More, to put down the riot, which he does in two ways. One, by saying that ‘you can’t riot like this. It’s against the law. So, shut up, be quiet’. And also, being by Shakespeare, with an appeal to their humanity.
With intense focus, McKellen delivered the speech on set, his fierce gaze capturing the gravity of the moment. The room erupted in applause as Stephen Colbert embraced him, visibly moved by the performance.
The Wider Impact of McKellen’s Message and Role
McKellen’s appearance on Colbert was more than a tribute to Shakespeare’s work; it was a timely reflection on social issues still relevant today. Through this rare Ian McKellen Shakespearean performance, he connected past and present concerns about immigration and humanity’s capacity for empathy. His vivid portrayal of Thomas More and the speech’s enduring significance emphasize the power of art to challenge intolerance and advocate for compassion.
The interview and performance serve as a reminder of theater’s role in speaking to societal tensions, marking a significant moment for audiences to reconsider both history and current events.
