But, you know, Patrick, youre a little too old.
Well, that was something of a shock.
DEADLINE:So, right away, the list is out and congratulations.
‘Making It So’ a memoir by Sir Patrick StewartMichael Buckner/Deadline
How does it feel to be on the New York Times best sellers list with your first book?
An unexpected honor in my life.
STEWART:Oh, many Yes.
Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
And while that didnt change, of course, there were many changes to come.
DEADLINE:Such as?
STEWART:(LAUGHS) My first draft was 750 pages.
And I think now the book is around 460 pages.
I welcome the advice and its increased in intensity the longer that I did it.
How did that, the writing itself, play out for you?
STEWART:The project became more and more enticing and exciting.
I think all my memories are accurate.
I avoided wherever I could exaggeration, and tried to be as open and honest as possible.
The other thing I tried to do was to write in my voice.
Because not to do that would seem a betrayal of what I was doing.
I couldnt pretend to be someone else.
So, as I delve deeper and deeper into Patrick Stewart as it became more and more serious.
DEADLINE:Was that something you expected?
I am not literally all the books have played a massive part of my life.
From the age of about six.
I discovered my local library in the small town I was growing up in.
So, in addition, as I mentioned, finding my voice was the most challenging thing.
And for this, now I feel very fortunate and very, very grateful.
I knew if I was to try attempt to write, I would need empty days to do that.
Not days full of learning write lines and turning up for early calls and all of that.
And so thats what the last two and a half to three years have been about.
DEADLINE:Am I correct to assume the pandemic played a role?
It was my agent who said to me, Patrick, youre not going to work this time.
There is no work.
So why dont you just take this opportunity and give it a shot and see what happens.
And that seemed reasonable.
So, I did.
And then fortunately, it became, well, I guess, a delightful obsession.
STEWART:(LAUGHS) Several, but whether the stamina and energy remains to climb those mountains?
Im not sure so.
I have to be very very cautious about what I take on.
So, I will have to be careful about what I take on.
DEADLINE: Anything you are toying with?
But, you know, Patrick, youre a little too old.
Well, that was something of a shock.
I mean, Lear describes himself as threescore years and 10.
STEWART:I reached out on occasions.
I think primarily to myStar Trekcolleagues, to say, am I right that this happened then?
These were the circumstances and theyve been lovely.
I have a beautiful relationship with all the principal actors who were with me inNext Generation.
So that was 20 episodes without a break in between.
DEADLINE:How was that?
STEWART:That was intense.
I was very glad to take a short rest when it was over.
DEADLINE:Is it over?
Is there another Star Trek mountain for you still to scale?
I know youve spoke of wanting to do more, but is that a real desire?
STEWART:Yes, and I think would be best if it were a film.
As whenNext Generationcame to an end, we then made four films.
So, I would like to see the ensemble of us finding a more significant way of saying goodbye.
DEADLINE: How realistic is that?
STEWART:Well see.
agreed to that, but Im quietly working away.
DEADLINE: You have completed a book tour of America, heading off to Europe.
The reception I received from our audiences everywhere surprised me.
A dialogue not just between the moderator and myself, but between myself and the audience.
That made it fun, and more interesting than I expected it to be.
I mean Ive done seven evening events in the last 10 days.
STEWART:I think about it quite a lot.
Thats all I have to say.
I am not a novelist.
Im not a storyteller in that sense.
I know Im not.
But I have some other little ideas which I will keep to myself for the time being.
