Home / Arts and Entertainment / Sir Patrick Stewart Shares Untold Career Tales
Sir Patrick Stewart Shares Untold Career Tales
30 Oct
Summary
- Stewart found safety on stage at age 12, escaping a difficult home life.
- Vivien Leigh defended Stewart from mistreatment by a theatre manager.
- Rod Steiger taught Stewart the camera captures thoughts, not just words.
Patrick Stewart, reflecting on his 86 years and a rich acting career, has shared several compelling stories from his life. He recounted finding a sense of safety on stage for the first time at age 12 while performing in a school play, a stark contrast to his difficult home environment.
During his time with the Old Vic company in the 1960s, Stewart experienced mistreatment from a general manager. Actress Vivien Leigh, witnessing these events, took Stewart under her wing, ensuring he felt respected and important within the company.
Stewart's early film experiences also provided crucial lessons. He recalled a moment with Rod Steiger on the set of 'Hennessey,' where Steiger imparted the wisdom that 'the camera photographs thoughts,' a revelation for Stewart who had previously focused solely on words.
Securing the role of Captain Picard in Star Trek involved numerous auditions and a dramatic hairpiece retrieval. Stewart also humorously recounted how his friend Ian McKellen initially doubted the longevity of the Star Trek series, a prediction later proven wrong by the show's enduring success over 157 episodes.
