Sir Patrick Stewart talks "Christmas Eve" and Much More!

Patrick Stewart stars in the new movie Christmas Eve as one of several people who get stuck in elevators all over New York City when a big blackout hits.

Sir Patrick Stewart was born in Mirfield, Yorkshire, England, to Gladys (Barrowclough), a textile worker and weaver, and Alfred Stewart, who was in the army. He was a member of various local drama groups from about age 12. He left school at age 15 to work as a junior reporter on a local paper; he quit when his editor told him he was spending too much time at the theatre and not enough working.

Stewart spent a year as a furniture salesman, saving cash to attend drama school. He was accepted by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 1957. He made his professional debut in 1959 in the repertory theatre in Lincoln; he worked at the Manchester Library Theatre and a tour around the world with the Old Vic Company followed in the early 1960s.

Patrick Stewart in, Christmas Eve

Stewart joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966, to begin his 27-year association. Following a run with the Royal National Theatre in the mid-1980s, he went to Los Angeles, California to star on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), which ran from 1987-1994, playing the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. After the series ended, Stewart reprised his role for a string of successful Star Trek films: Star Trek: Generations (1994), Star Trek: First Contact (1996), Star Trek: Insurrection (1998), and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002). Stewart continues to work on the stage and in various films. He also continues to do a lot of voice work most notably as CIA deputy director Avery Bullock in American Dad.  

He was awarded Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the 2010 Queen's New Year's Honours List for his services to drama.

Buckingham Palace, 2010

I had the pleasure of speaking with Sir Patrick this morning via satellite from Los Angeles about his new movie, Christmas Eve, his role as a crass talk show host in the TV series, Blunt Talk, how he REALLY feels about Christmas, his excitement to see the new Star Wars movie and if we've really seen the last of Professor X.

‘Christmas Eve’ opens Friday, December 4th in theaters and On Demand.