The United Nations refugee agency has named the British actor Theo James as a global goodwill ambassador.
James, who has acted in the television series The Gentlemen and The White Lotus, has supported the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) since 2016 and has travelled to Greece, France, and Jordan to meet asylum seekers and refugees, the agency said.
James said his own family's experience had "given me an understanding of the sacrifices and struggles that refugees face".
🎥 Exciting News! Theo James is joining @refugees as a Goodwill Ambassador! 🌍✨
— UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) June 17, 2024
His grandfather fled Nazi-controlled Greece in WWII, finding safety in Syria. This personal story fuels his passion to support refugees worldwide. #WithRefugeeshttps://t.co/oBH31nap6c pic.twitter.com/RBhPc8UhLs
"During the Second World War, my grandfather was forced to flee on a small boat from Greece to Syria, and his courage and resilience has inspired me to help make a difference to the lives of displaced people," he said in a statement.
"... My grandfather was welcomed and offered shelter by the people of Syria, which enabled him to rebuild his life as a doctor and give something back. That is why it is important for me to stand in solidarity with refugees who have fled conflicts today and to help share their stories. They need our support now more than ever."
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said last week the number of people forcibly displaced stood at a record 117.3 million at the end of last year and that this figure could rise without global political changes.
"No one chooses to become a refugee. But we can all choose how to respond to people in need of sanctuary, whose lives depend upon it," James said.
James is married to the Irish actor Ruth Kearney.
Source: Reuters
