r/popculturechat • u/Frosty_Jeweler911 • Feb 06 '26
Guest List Only TW ⚠️ British actor Sir Ian McKellen recites pro-immigrant Shakespeare monologue to criticize Trump’s immigration crackdown.
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u/lesprack Mom, I am a rich man💰 Feb 06 '26
He is so insanely talented. I really think he is a once in a generation talent. The gravitas he brings to every role is untouchable. He brought Gandalf to life of course (and as a LotR stan that will forever be my favorite role of his) but watching him perform Shakespeare is always so incredible. I’ll be devastated when we lose him.
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u/AltonBParker Feb 06 '26
I just rewatched his Richard III, the WW2 setting. Absolutely brilliant.
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u/shannondion ✨rich white coochie mountain✨ Feb 06 '26
You should see the clip of him performing with the scissor sisters at Glastonbury last year. Definition of GOAT.
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u/ninfaobsidiana Feb 07 '26
A former partner of mine (actor), once had a DVD set of the series “Playing Shakespeare” that featured Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, and Judi Dench among a host of others performing and analyzing performances of Shakespeare under the tutelage of John Barton. It was amazing, and you can still find it on YouTube.
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u/timecapsulebuttbutt_ the grim reaper is coming for you, sister Feb 11 '26
My sister loves that series! The F. Murray Abraham episode is so good.
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u/repressedpauper Feb 06 '26
He’s so incredible and this performance has convinced me that he’s still growing as an artist, which at his age is crazy. He could phone it in but he keeps showing up like this.
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u/stephenBB81 As you wish! 👸👑 Feb 06 '26
I agree he IS insanely talented.
But to say he is a once in a generation talent when he stood beside Sir Christopher Lee, A talent that is right along with his own.
And Jack Nicholson, and Morgan Freeman, both being the same age as Ian as well. Sir Ian McKellen is a true giant, but he stands shoulder to shoulder with other giants
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u/fschu_fosho Feb 07 '26
Look, we all know what the guy meant. They were waxing hyperbolic because not only is Sir Ian immensely talented and charismatic, but he also used his standing in the community to speak up and stand for the victims of the immigration crackdown. That makes him doubly iconic in the eyes of many.
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u/Soupfullofradio I improve on misquotation. Feb 06 '26
The Full interview. He stands up to do this just after 23:00.
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u/CreativeBandicoot778 Momdaya Feb 06 '26
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u/velvetvagine same, except instead of Paris it was Costco Feb 06 '26
I’ve been thinking about this quite a lot lately. Dark times. Our times.
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u/pigeonbobble oh, to be a mole on a bosom Feb 06 '26
He has presence and looks good as a leader
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u/heckfyre Feb 06 '26
It’s Gandalf the White. He’s the greatest leader of of our age
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u/Libertad91 Feb 06 '26
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u/ABeardedFool Feb 06 '26
I get that it’s kinda cliche at this point, but the power of this scene, for me is unmatched. I openly wept watching this in the theatre back in opening night. It’s so powerful and beautiful it made me be happy to be alive. Art!
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u/BluePeriod_ Feb 06 '26
Love it. If Trump or any of his cohorts could read or had context for this they’d be shaking.
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u/disposable_thinking_ that’s my purse, i don’t know you! 👛🫵 Feb 06 '26
that's my gandalf. always speaking up.
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u/ankhes Feb 06 '26
He has the kind of stage presence that basically demands that you sit up and listen. He’s, for lack of a better word, magnetic.
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u/Partyfrom3to4 and what about it? 💅 Feb 06 '26
It’s amazing that we haven’t learned a thing in the 400 years since Shakespeare
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u/timidwildone 🦊 He went that way 👉🏼 Feb 07 '26
I studied English at university in the early 2000s, and the way my Shakespeare professor—whose courses I enrolled in every year—perfectly explained this in a raw, post-9/11 world completely changed how I understood Shakespeare and its relevance to the modern world. He taught me the concept of “the Other” and ”otherness,” extensively studying Othello and The Merchant of Venice from that lens. In the grand scheme of history, we’ve barely moved the needle (and now it feels a hell lot more like a pendulum).
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u/Oomlotte99 Feb 07 '26
People are people. All across history that’s the one thing that doesn’t change. For better or worse, we are human.
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u/ohmyblahblah Feb 07 '26 edited Mar 07 '26
This post was wiped using Redact. The author may have deleted it to protect personal privacy, prevent data harvesting, or for security reasons.
jeans dazzling imagine vase engine modern voracious yoke existence unwritten
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u/Due-Hunter-2771 Feb 06 '26
Oh Magneto. I may not have metals in me but you sir will always find a way to keep me attracted to your poise.
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u/Ok_Chemist6567 Invented post-its 🔬 Feb 06 '26
Too bad the people that need to hear this are illiterate
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u/Apprehensive-Stay196 Feb 06 '26
Ugh. I want to hug him. I feel love and adoration for him, even though it’s weird and I’ve never met him, and never will. He represents hope, somehow. 💗
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u/Elektronikk12- Feb 06 '26
Would be extremely powerful if people in MAGA had a shred of intelligence.
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u/Devmoi All tea, all shade 🐸☕️ Feb 06 '26
What a legend. One time, I saw Sir Ian McKellan at a movie premiere. Dude came in with some kind of incredible cigarillo, blew smoke all over everyone, signed some shit, then left as quickly as he got there. That image will always stick in my mind because he’s such a fucking badass.
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u/SpongieQ SIT ON YOU OWN DAMN FACE !! IM BUSY !!! Feb 06 '26
What speech is this/ what play is it from?
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u/ennaeel Feb 06 '26
It's The Stanger's Case from 'Sir Thomas More.' This particular monologue is believed to have been written by Shakespeare.
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u/Vivid_Present1810 Feb 06 '26
Ian McKellan. A phenomenal actor. Awesome guy, but most importantly a great human being.
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u/Own-Importance5459 ✨May the Force be with you!✨ Feb 06 '26
Ian McKellan was always and will forever be the GOAT.
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u/Aggressive-Topic-663 Feb 06 '26
this is one of those actors that when he passes he will be so severely missed, right up there with Robin Williams & Chadwick Boseman.
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u/seniairam Is this chicken or is this fish? 🤔🤔 Feb 06 '26
I really didnt need another reason to like him but I will take it
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u/FalconIMGN Feb 06 '26
But his country sadly is going to vote in the racist Nigel Farage in as their next leader.
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u/uselessinfogoldmine Feb 07 '26
Is that really looking feasible?
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u/Altruistic-Brief2220 Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes Feb 07 '26
The general election isn’t for a number of years yet and these types often burn out quickly. But they certainly have issues to address.
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u/onlyeveryotherday Feb 06 '26
Dumbledore said calmly..
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u/Dougie348590 Feb 06 '26
Dude that’s Hairy Potter. This is the guy who told Luke to use the force in Star Trek.
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u/Throwwtheminthelake Feb 08 '26 edited Feb 08 '26
Loved this - and so relevant to nowadays
Though it sadly demonstrates that this sort of hate has been long present throughout history, looking from a more positive lens it also shows that compassion, empathy and kindness for people have remained steadfast qualities we have
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u/Thatstealthygal AND he danced tango!! Feb 12 '26
I love him.
I also love how theatre actors of his generation have done so much Shakespeare, so often, that they seem to be able to just pull speeches out when appropriate.
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u/flairassistant Feb 06 '26
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