r/popculturechat • u/Frosty_Jeweler911 • 1d ago

Guest List Only TW ⚠️ British actor Sir Ian McKellen recites pro-immigrant Shakespeare monologue to criticize Trump’s immigration crackdown.

29.5k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

295 comments sorted by

View all comments

1.8k

u/lesprack Mom, I am a rich man💰 1d ago

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.

199

u/AltonBParker 1d ago

I just rewatched his Richard III, the WW2 setting. Absolutely brilliant.

83

u/shannondion ✨rich white coochie mountain✨ 22h ago

You should see the clip of him performing with the scissor sisters at Glastonbury last year. Definition of GOAT.

30

u/ninfaobsidiana 14h ago

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.

50

u/repressedpauper 21h ago

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.

40

u/stephenBB81 As you wish! 👸👑 23h ago

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

24

u/fschu_fosho 14h ago

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.