LogFAQs > #973023768

Sariana21 posted...

I believe it because it sounds like something that would be true.

The whole story of how he got the role is amazing.
Gene Roddenberry and Robert Justma (TV Producer) worked on the new Star Trek TV series. They decided that the captain would be French, and they wanted a real French actor. They didnt knew who, that would be a future problem.
Robert and his wife decided to go on an evening lecture at UCLA about Shakespear.
Patrick Stewart had done much Shakespear in UK, and now he was in USA to help his Professor friend by making a guest speech. When the class was over, Robert knew that Patrick was perfect.
So he contacted Patrick and convinced him to meet him and Gene the next day to try for the role.
They thanked him and Patrick flew home to UK, not thinking about it any more.
Robert knew that they had found their captain, but Gene was still stuck on using a real French actor. Robert kept pestering Gene about Patrick until he got angry, so Robert decided to not mention him again.
Time went and they got closer to their deadline when Gene finally gave up and asked Robert to hire Patrick.
Patrick wasnt really interested in the role, especially when the contract mentioned the possibility of multiple seasons.
But his friends, and his manager, said It will probably be cancelled after a season, take the job and see it as a paid vacation!
There was some worry that the studio would be reluctant to cast a bald actor for the role, and Stewart read both with and without a wig, his custom-made stage wig was flown in from the UK. Thankfully, the studio heads preferred him without it.
He also tried out a French accent for the character but all involved, including Patrick Stewart himself, thought he sounded like Inspector Clouseau.