Movies - TV
Playing An Older Picard Is A Double-Edged Sword For Patrick Stewart
By WITNEY SEIBOLD
In his own words, Patrick Stewart “lectured” his fellow cast members during the first season of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” for goofing around. When Stewart told them they “are not here to have fun,” he realized that he needed to loosen up.
Having once again committed himself to the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Stewart admits that learning lines at the age of 79 is much harder than it used to be when he was 47. However, the professional that he is, Stewart ensures he is “dead-letter-perfect” for at least the first two days of the work week.
Stewart also appreciates the realism he can now bring to Picard, given that the character is supposed to be older. Being over 80 himself, Stewart doesn’t have to pretend to be anything other than his age, and since Picard is now retired, this takes the pressure off of him in regards to action scenes.
For Stewart, old age also brings him the advantage of being “braver,” taking more risks, and being less judgmental of himself, unlike in his younger days. Although he had more mental stamina 30 years ago, Stewart is now more confident and approaches his craft in a way that makes him feel authentic.