David Morrissey
David Morrissey
British actor and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador David Morrissey meets Faiza (R), a Syrian refugee mother of three, whose family is being relocated from Egypt to France.
Text and media 13
About David
British actor David Morrissey has been supporting UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, since 2014 and was announced as a Goodwill Ambassador in March 2017.
David has long been one of UNHCR’s most active supporters in the UK, advocating for the rights of refugees through his powerful performances, participation in social media initiatives and visits to refugee camps in some of the world’s most vulnerable locations.
Missions to Quetta and Cairo
In November 2022, David travelled with UNHCR to Quetta, near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where he met people affected by the floods in Pakistan. On this mission, David also met with Afghan refugees who fled following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.
David wrote an article for The Metro entitled “We can’t forget about Afghan refugees – those in the UK and abroad” and for The Independent, calling on the public to “challenge the narrative” around the refugee crisis.
In November 2019, David travelled to Cairo, where he met with refugees from Syria, Somalia, and Sudan. Upon his return, David wrote about his experience in Cairo and the refugee stories that had stayed with him as part of UNHCR’s Winter Appeal.
British actor und UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador David Morrissey meets Aud (L), a South Sudanese refugee, in a UNHCR reception centre in Cairo, Egypt.
British actor and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador David Morrissey meets Marina (L), a South Sudanese refugee and mother of six, who is being relocated from Egypt to France.
David Morrissey meets a family of Syrian refugees who are being relocated from Egypt to France.
David Morrissey meets Abbas (centre), an Iraqi refugee, in a UNHCR reception centre in Cairo, Egypt.
David Morrissey visits the Giza pyramids in the sidelines of a visit to Egypt to meet refugees and learn more about the work of UNHCR.
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador David Morrissey meets a family of Syrian refugees who have been in Lebanon for five years since fleeing bombings in Syria.
David Morrissey greets Mohammed, a young boy who has crossed from Turkey to Lesvos without his parents from Aleppo, Syria.
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador David Morrissey meets a Syrian refugee family in an informal settlement in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, not far from the Syrian border.
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador David Morrissey talks to Syrian refugee Jamal Ahmad Al Khaled, who has resettled in the UK with his family.
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador David Morrissey talks to Syrian refugee Jamal Ahmad Al Khaled and his wife Hiba who have resettled in the UK with their two daughters.
David Morrissey was involved in a search and rescue with Greek coast guards off the coast of Lesvos, a Greek island facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
Missions to Lebanon, Jordan, and Greece
David and writer Amy Raphael's book, A Game of Two Halves: Famous Football Fans Meet Their Heroes, came as a result of the pair's mission to Lebanon in 2017 to witness UNHCR's work with Syrian refugees living there. At the time, Lebanon hosted the highest number of Syrian refugees per capita in the world.
David has long supported key UNHCR campaigns and fundraising initiatives, and in September 2016, he addressed the Refugees Welcome rally in London's Parliament Square.
In 2015, David travelled to the Greek island of Lesvos to meet refugees who had made the perilous journey across the Aegean to seek safety in Europe. This followed David's 2014 mission to visit Syrian families in Zaatari Refugee Camp and Amman in Jordan, which marked the beginning of David's journey with UNHCR.
A passionate champion for refugees' rights, David continues to shine a light on refugees' stories and the work of UNHCR, encouraging people to 'spare a thought for refugees' and to 'take action, no matter how small'.
Text and media 21
Advocacy efforts
In June 2018, David performed in the UK Houses of Parliament for World Refugee Day alongside fellow Goodwill Ambassador Cate Blanchett. David appealed, “We need to keep working all the time with the general public and with our Members of Parliament to make sure they are focusing on a situation that most people think has gone away”.
The same year, David supported UNHCR’s Families Together campaign alongside UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Neil Gaiman and high-profile supporter Theo James.
David 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.
In addition to the numerous articles he has written in support of UNHCR, David worked with writer Amy Raphael on the book A Game of Two Halves: Famous Football Fans Meet Their Heroes.
David interviewed his football hero, Steven Gerrard, for the book, which pairs some of the biggest names in football with their celebrity fans. Other pairings include Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp and comedian John Bishop; David Lammy MP and England defender Eric Dier; musician and former guitarist with The Smiths Johnny Marr; and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. David launched the book with Amy Raphael and Gary Lineker.
David Morrissey's work as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
News and highlights
Find the latest news and key highlights about David's work as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.
With millions already forced to flee Ukraine, this is now the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since WW2. UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador @davemorrissey64 explains how needs are growing and what you can do to help.
— UK for UNHCR (@UNRefugeesUK) March 30, 2022
Please donate today: https://t.co/zRUaYolGHa pic.twitter.com/x6fLU8HT9x
