Theo James
Theo James
Theo James visits the Azraq refugee camp in Jordan and is greeted by one of the children attending the classes at the community centre.
Jordan, 2023. Theo James visits the Azraq refugee camp.
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About Theo
Upon his appointment, Theo said: “I am very proud to join UNHCR as a Goodwill Ambassador. The experience of my own family has given me an understanding of the sacrifices and struggles that refugees face.”
During the Second World War, Theo’s grandfather, Dr Nicholas Taptiklis, was forced to flee Greece, making his way by boat and then overland through Turkey to Damascus, Syria. When the Second World War ended, Dr Taptiklis worked in Gottingen, Germany, with a UN organisation fighting typhoid and tuberculosis in refugee camps.
"His courage and resilience has inspired me to help make a difference to the lives of displaced people", Theo said. He has supported UNHCR’s work both at home and abroad, attending fundraisers, engaging in advocacy efforts, and visiting refugees in Greece and Jordan.
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Theo James meets Malian refugees in Mauritania's Mbera camp.
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Field visits
In 2024, Theo James visited Mauritania, where he spent time with refugees from Mali who fled violence and insecurity at home and are now struggling with the challenges of climate change and ongoing humanitarian crises in the Sahel region.
This visit preceded James’ participation at the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, where he joined UNHCR and refugee advocates who have personally experienced the devastating effects of the climate crisis.
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Theo James visits the Azraq refugee camp in Jordan and is greeted by Abu and his children.
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Theo travelled to Jordan with UNHCR in July 2023, where he visited the urban areas of Amman and witnessed the realities of the Azraq Refugee Camp.
Jordan hosts the second-highest share of refugees per capita worldwide, but despite its efforts to provide health care, education, and employment for refugees, Jordan cannot bear the brunt of this cost alone. Sustained funding for refugees in Jordan is desperately needed to avoid a humanitarian crisis.
Reflecting on his trip, Theo said, "The scars of war are not always visible, but there is also an enormous sustained impact. For many, despair is setting in, as they have lost their jobs and cannot provide for their families; others have taken on extremely high debts and face the threat of being evicted. It is as if they were carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. All this while trying to cope with the trauma of war and loss".
Greece, 2016. Theo James speaks with Rafia, a 17-year-old boy from Syria.
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In 2016, Theo travelled to Greece with UNHCR to learn more about its activities in the country and the reality of the situation for refugees. There were over 170,000 new arrivals of refugees into Greece during 2016 alone, the year of Theo’s visit.
The experience of one teenage refugee struck a particular chord in Theo, who shared, “We met Rafi in the Alexandria emergency reception site in Northern Greece. Rafi is a bright and intelligent boy of 17 who had spent the last three years seeking asylum with his family. Despite having lost much of the bone in his right elbow and his left knee from a bomb blast in Syria, he radiated positivity. Of course, he felt frustrated at times, but he looked to the future with hope and resilience. He wants to live in France because he learnt some French in school and enjoys the language. I hope he gets there.”
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Housam is one of the 32,000 refugees who have been relocated as part of the EU’s emergency relocation scheme that aims to share responsibility for the refugee crisis.
Support for UNHCR
Most recently, Theo has helped to raise awareness about two major challenges facing refugees: climate, and mental health. Theo speaks passionately about these issues and is resolved to advocate for those affected.
In 2023, Theo joined countless other celebrities in highlighting his support for UNHCR and the refugee plight by wearing a blue ribbon at the Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles, California.
In 2019, Theo lent his acting talents to UNHCR and provided the voiceover for UNHCR’s High-Level Segment on Statelessness, a forum which gave UN Member States the opportunity to highlight key achievements made to address statelessness worldwide since the launch of UNHCR’s #IBelong Campaign to End Statelessness.
As a British national, Theo has also been involved in UNHCR efforts closer to home. In 2018, Theo supported UNHCR’s Families Together campaign. Theo signed an open letter calling for MPs to attend the Refugees Family Reunion Bill and advocate for its implementation to allow child refugees a route to reunite with their parents.
The scars of war are not always visible, but there is also an enormous sustained impact.
@refugees We’re all about this personal message from actor and UNHCR supporter #TheoJames about why #MentalHealth support is a human right - for everyone, including refugees 💙 #WorldMentalHealthDay ♬ original sound - We help refugees
Theo James’ work as a Goodwill Ambassador
News and highlights
Find the latest news and highlights about Theo's work as a UNHCR high-profile supporter.