On this week's episode, Sir Patrick Stewart on a Life Shaped by Shakespeare.

From the Folger Shakespeare Library, this is Shakespeare Unlimited.

I'm Michael Whitmore, the Folger director.

Sir Patrick Stewart became famous to American TV audiences as Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek the next generation.

Turns out, even in the 24th century, Shakespeare is still a pretty big deal.

Data, you're here to learn about the human condition, and there is no better way of doing that than by embracing Shakespeare.

For some young sci-fi fans hearing Patrick Stewart as Picard, quote Shakespeare, might

have been their first time hearing the Bard's work.

What a piece of work is man.

How noble in reason, how infinite in faculty, in form, in moving, how express and admirable,

in action, how like an angel, in apprehension, how like a god.

Surely you don't see your species like that, do you?

Here at the Folger, Stuart helped us get through COVID lockdowns with his daily sonnet readings on Instagram.

But do thy worst to steal thyself away, for term of life thou art assured mine.

And life no longer than thy love will stay, for it depends upon that love of thine.

Then need I not to fear the worst of wrongs, when in the least of them,

my life hath end? I see a better state to me belongs than that which on thy humor doth depend.

Now Sir Patrick has come out with a memoir, making it so.

In it, Stuart tells the story of his working-class upbringing in Yorkshire, his first exposure

to Shakespeare, and his decision to pursue a career on the stage.

He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966 and worked his way up through small roles.

But eventually, he'd play King John, Oberon, Shylock, Titus Andronicus, Mark Antony, Claudius, Prospero, and Macbeth.

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