- Title: Star Trek, X-Men's Patrick Stewart turns 80
- Date: 13th July 2020
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - JANUARY 15, 2020) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF ACTOR PATRICK STEWART AND WIFE SUNNY OZELL ARRIVING ON RED CARPET AND POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS AT THE "STAR TREK: PICARD" PREMIERE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, PATRICK STEWART, SAYING: "I came back because it was irresistible. I went to my meeting to explain to them why I was going to turn their offer down and a week later, I listened to them for a second time and I was intrigued. And that intrigue grew into something very exciting which is why I'm back. (REPORTER ASKING OFF CAMERA "What conditions did you set, what did you ask them, was there anything specific you wanted this time around?") Don't put me in a uniform." STEWART AND CAST MEMBERS ARRIVING ON RED CARPET / STEWART HUGGING ACTOR JASON ISAACS / STEWART AND CAST MEMBERS LINING UP FOR PHOTOCALL BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - JANUARY 5, 2020) (REUTERS) PATRICK STEWART AND WIFE POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS ON THE RED CARPET LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 26, 2019) (REUTERS) CAPITOL RECORDS BUILDING / EVENT CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEATLES' ABBEY ROAD ALBUM WITH BRITISH ACTOR SIR PATRICK STEWART VARIOUS OF SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH ACTOR, SIR PATRICK STEWART, SAYING: "The door opened and standing in the frame of the door was Paul McCartney, who said, 'Jane (Asher) tells me you like Aston Martins, here, drive this.' And he tossed a set of keys across the room to me. Well, I did drive it. In fact, I drove Paul and Jane who sat in the back all scrunched up. And we drove from Bristol to Bath and back. And all the way Paul kept saying, 'come on put your foot down overtake, overtake.' And all I could think was, if I killed Paul McCartney." STEWART POSING FOR PICTURES, WALKING ACROSS CROSSWALK LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - 1994) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) ACTOR PATRICK STEWART SPEAKING TO REPORTER AT THE PREMIERE FOR "DESPERADO" HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - NOVEMBER 17, 1994) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) PREMIERE OF "STAR TREK: GENERATIONS" PREMIERE IN PROGRESS PATRICK STEWART, ACTOR WHO PLAYS CAPTAIN JEAN-LUC PICARD, SPEAKING TO REPORTER LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - FEBRUARY 3, 1995) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EMPIRE CINEMA IN LONDON'S LEICESTER SQUARE FOR THE PREMIERE OF "STAR TREK: GENERATIONS" "STAR TREK" FANS OR TREKKIES, IN COSTUME CHATTING STARS NAMES IN LIGHTS AT CINEMA ENTRANCE ACTOR WILLIAM SHATNER WHO PLAYS 'CAPTAIN KIRK' ARRIVING PATRICK STEWART ARRIVING LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - DECEMBER 10, 1996) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF EMPIRE CINEMA FOR "STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT" PREMIERE DIRECTOR JONATHAN FRAKES ARRIVING (SOUNDBITE( (English), ACTOR, PATRICK STEWART, SAYING: "Well, it's got a lot of intensity. It's got a very good balance of action, of special effects and of characterisation. It has three, not one, story-lines which all merge, I think, very excitingly at the end. it has all of the fundamentals of 'Star Trek' but I think it's perhaps a little more passionate than some 'Star Trek' movies have been. (TURNS TO GIRLFRIEND WENDY NEUSS) Would you agree?" (SHE REPLIES (English): "Absolutely.")
- Embargoed: 27th July 2020 12:52
- Keywords: Amnesty International activist Captain Jean-Luc Picard Patrick Stewart Professor X Star Trek X-Men
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- Topics: Celebrities,Arts / Culture / Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA001CMNTZKD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Patrick Stewart turns 80 on Monday (July 13).
The "Star Trek" and "X-Men" actor was born in Mirfield, west Yorkshire in northern England in 1940.
Stewart won worldwide fame with much-loved character Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the starship USS Enterprise in "Star Trek".
His history playing Picard dates back to 1987 when he portrayed the character in the TV series "Star Trek: The Next Generation", as well as in four feature films, the last of which was released in 2002.
Stewart had repeatedly refused efforts to lure him back to the sci-fi series. However, the writers of its latest chapter, "Star Trek: Picard", helped change his mind, with his character back on small screens this year after a two-decade break.
"I came back because it was irresistible," Stewart said on the red carpet on January 15 ahead of a screening at a cinema in London's Leicester Square.
Stewart also portrays mind-reading Professor Charles Xavier in the blockbuster superhero "X-Men" franchise from Marvel Comics. His archenemy Magneto is played by fellow British thespian Ian McKellan.
Scottish actor James McAvoy joined the cast of "X-Men: First Class" in 2010, a prequel to Fox's superhero trilogy, to star as the younger wheelchair-bound Professor X, opposite Irish-German actor Michael Fassbender as the youthful Magneto. Once close friends, an eternal war rages between Professor X's X-Men and Magneto's Brotherhood.
Stewart's Professor X also features in the "Wolverine" films, where Australian actor Hugh Jackman plays the title mutant role who possesses animal-keen senses and capabilities, as well as powerful self-healing powers.
Distinguished Shakespearean actor Stewart was knighted in 2009, age 69, by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II for services to drama.
He was won the Laurence Olivier award for best supporting actor in 2009 for "Hamlet" and in 1979 for "Anthony and Cleopatra". He also scooped a Grammy in 1996 for best spoken word album for children for "Peter and the Wolf".
Stewart, a long-time Amnesty International supporter, called for the release of jailed Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo in December 2010. Liu, who was sentenced in China for "inciting subversion of state power" was recognised only hours earlier during the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway. Stewart made reference to China's refusal to allow Liu Xiaobo to travel to Oslo to receive his prize.
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