TWITTER WATCH: Ian McKellen Offers Words from Shakespeare On The Matter of Refugees

The issue of Syrian refugees seeking safety and asylum is a controversial one, not just here in America, but around the world.

Actor and social activist Ian McKellen took to Twitter today to call attention to a video from 2010 where he recites a scene from the Elizabethan play, SIR THOMAS MORE. It was More's opposition to Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Arragon and his subsequent refusal to swear that the king's authority superseded the pope's that led to his execution in 1535.

Originally penned by Anthony Munday, the play was rejected by the British censor for its scene of Londoners rioting. Several playwrights took a crack at revising it, including William Shakespeare. In the video, McKellen plays a Shakespeare scene where More calms a crowd ready to riot over the increasing presence of foreigners in their city.

At age 76, Sir Ian McKellen is recognized as one of the world's greatest living actors for his performances on stage and screen. His work spans genres ranging from classical to modern to popular fantasy and science fiction. He is known throughout the world for film roles such as Gandalf in THE LORD OF THE RINGS and THE HOBBIT trilogies and Magneto in the X-MEN films.