In the same article as the Leonard Nimoy interview, Driven Magazine got a chance to talk to Patrick Stewart about his time in the captain's chair. 

Our loveable Captain Picard revealed that he originally took the role for the moolah, but all of that quickly changed.

“I only did it because I was assured that it would only last one season, two or three at the absolute most, and then, I could just back to getting on with my life. But it was going to make some decent money for the first time in my career, and that’s all it meant to me then. I had a very busy 27-year old career before I ever put on my space suit. But from the moment I put that suit on, my life changed. And, it’s been a fantastic ride ever since.”

Even after playing Picard for seven seasons and in five motion pictures, Stewart said he never grew tired of portraying the enigmatic starship commander. “I’m one of the luckiest actors in the world, because I was able to play a character that was constantly evolving and was always interesting to watch,” he says. “It was always my ambition with every episode, and certainly every film, that we would try and find some novelty, new insights or surprise with Picard. I was excited to show up every day to the sets.

“I learned so much from playing Picard,” Stewart continues. “I have, at times, consciously tried to develop his tolerance and patience, because I’ve been an impatient and intolerant person a lot in my life, and I will probably regret saying this, but there have been times when I’ve literally said, ‘What would Jean-Luc do in this situation?’” (source Driven Magazine)

Read the article here.

Image credit Trekcore.com