Why Patrick Stewart, of Star Trek and X-Men, waited for 83 years to reveal his past: 'I think I have been in denial about my life for a very long time'

Sir Patrick Stewart, best known for his roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Picard, and the X-Men film franchise, to name a few, passed away on October 28 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 86. According to reports, Patrick was battling Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. Besides his illustrious acting career, Patrick also earned the title of an author later in life. His New York Times bestselling autobiography, Making It So: A Memoir, released in 2023, followed the actor’s journey from a modest, working-class childhood in Yorkshire to global sci-fi stardom.

Star Trek actor Patrick Stewart on fame and fortune

Patrick Stewart, in a 2023 interview with The Guardian, revealed that despite achieving fame, he often feels a sense of denial about his milestones. ‘I think I have been in denial about my life for a very long time. I never really took on board how successful I had become,’ he said.

Patrick continued that he has to constantly remind himself of how ‘lucky’ he is whenever something favourable happens. The legendary star added that this realisation dawns upon him every time he gives interviews to digital publications about his life and career


Back then, Patrick was conducting his 7-city book tour for Making It So: A Memoir. He admitted that doing a book tour while being an actor was an achievement that he does not take for granted. This has perhaps more than anything brought me to the realisation of how much great good fortune I’ve had in my life,’ noted Patrick.

More about Patrick Stewart

Patrick, a 3-time Olivier Award winner and a Tony Award nominee, worked in several Shakespeare productions. He won a Grammy in 1995 and received multiple Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations for his contributions across television and film. According to Deadline, Patrick left school at 15 to perform in local theatre, making his stage debut in 1959 at the Theatre Royal, Bristol.

In 1966, Patrick became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. A year later, he made his TV debut with Coronation Street, followed by his maiden Broadway show in 1970 as Snout in Peter Brook’s 1970 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.