Comic Book Guy: In Person with Sir Patrick Stewart at EIFF

On a warm Edinburgh evening at Fountain Park Cinema, an unassuming black car pulls up to the front doors; from the back seat emerges the face that launched a thousand Starships. A group of fans have given up any chance of nabbing the good seats inside for the opportunity to catch a glimpse, a handshake or an autograph from the man. Walking past, a girl with large hoop earrings, wearing a grubby grey track suit shrilly screams into her phone “I’m at the cinema right, and that guy from Starfing is ‘ere” – what a disgrace. That guy is Sir Patrick Stewart, head of this year’s EIFF Jury and for the next ninety minutes it’s his famous velvet tones that will own the audience.

During In Person with Patrick Stewart he describes himself as not a comic book fan in the classic sense, even though he has become synonymous with Charles Xavier in the X-Men – a role he was so perfectly cast for. Although he says it’s no bad thing for an actor to have too many franchises, he also speaks of being typecast by not only the aforementioned role, but by his time aboard the Starship Enterprise as Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

Though recognisable through these iconic roles, here is a man every bit the embodiment of an actor as both a profession and a passion. Indeed so passionate about his craft that not once, but twice his voice cracks with emotion whilst answering questions. Firstly the mere mention of Jack Nicholson’s performance in Five Easy Pieces brings an almost teary admiration. Secondly recounting a fans letter regarding Star Trek brightening their day leads to a true show of touching appreciation.

Throughout Sir Patrick talks about how he was first emerged in acting through family, his work treading the boards of London and Broadway and the contrast of the stage actor and the man in front of the camera. He is perhaps the quintessential figure to describe the tenuous marriage of these two words and it is hard to recall another actor who has blended the two with such gusto. The enthusiasm and respect with which he talks about his fellow peers and their craft is infectious, with genuine warmth and humour washing, as he mentions one enrapturing anecdote after another. The end comes all too quickly, with the same black car waiting to take him away.

There was nothing left to say except it had been a pleasure.