Sir Patrick Stewart is one of our most admired actors, a master of Shakespeare – and the universe. But his start in life was anything but starry. Here, he talks about writing his memoir, his violent father – and why he’d love to do more comedy
atrick Stewart grew up in a small terraced home in a town called Mirfield, on the edge of the Pennines. There was no running hot water, no indoor toilet, no central heating. For a long time he shared a bed with his brother, Trevor, who was five years his senior. Many local families were similarly impoverished. One of Stewart’s friends wore wellington boots to school, without socks, no matter the season – there was no alternative.
Alf died in 1980, three years after Gladys. And yet Alf continues to loom large in Stewart’s life as a locus of shame and pride and influence. “There were years when I hated my father so deeply and feared him, too,” he says. But he also thinks of Alf as an impressive man. He recalls a moment when one of Alf’s army peers told him: “When your father walked on to the parade ground, the birds in the trees stopped singing.” Stewart was astonished. “I think my discipline comes from him,” he says now.
“It’s not a get-out,” he says. “But an understanding, yes.” Then he goes on, “I always used to feel that my father and his violence is what had the biggest impact on my life. There have been times when I have been violent. Rarely to other people, and never to my children. But I can get angry. And it comes from my father.”“Yes,” he says. “Denying myself certain things. Because I felt I didn’t deserve them.
But Stewart is aware that without support he would not be where he is and it pains him to witness the cuts to government funding for the arts. “Only yesterday I received an email from someone who runs a small private theatre in the north of England asking for my support. Their grants had been cut to almost nothing. Could I help? Could I spread the word? I assume scholarships still exist in some way, but I don’t think they exist with a view to the arts.
‘There are so many things I would like to have said to my dad’: Patrick Stewart wears suit by Gabriella Hearst, shirt by Paul Smith and shoes by Manolo Blahnik.McKellen, who is aware of his friend’s difficult beginnings, describes Stewart as “an honourable man”, a “man of principle” and “a bloody-minded Yorkshireman”. “Going around with Patrick is like going around with the pope,” he told me. “Not that people genuflect, but he’s touched so many lives.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Aular limps to CRO Race win as Stewart claims final stage for Jayco-AlUlaIt was a dramatic finale to the 8th edition of the CRO Race, with the 2023 victor ending up rolling slowly over the finish after crashing hard on the final stage as New Zealander Campbell Stewart took the stage sprint win.
Read more »
‘Coxzilla’, Sir Lewis and Legolas: Pies stars get creative as flag party rolls into Mad Monday‘Coxzilla’, Sir Lewis and Legolas: Pies stars get creative as flag party rolls into Mad Monday
Read more »
Billy Connolly shares grim health update amid Parkinson’s battleSir Billy Connolly has shared a grim health update amid his decade-long battle with Parkinson’s.
Read more »
Amazon’s behind the scenes back-down in bid for TV ad millionsAmazon tells us its plan to take 30pc cut from Fire TV advertising is global, tells networks otherwise; Foxtel’s Patrick Delany concedes “lack of content”.
Read more »
‘Where’s your cap?’: Ryder Cup fans heckle, troll Patrick Cantlay over hat drama‘Where’s your cap?’: Ryder Cup fans heckle, troll golf star over hat drama
Read more »