Patrick Stewart: the legacy of domestic violence
My father was, in many ways, a man of discipline, organisation and charisma - a regimental sergeant major no less. One of the very last men to be evacuated from Dunkirk, his third stripe was chalked on to his uniform by an officer when no more senior NCOs were left alive. Parachuted into Crete and Italy, both times under fire, he fought at Monte Casino and was twice mentioned in dispatches. A fellow soldier once told me, "When your father marches on to the parade ground, the birds in the trees stop singing."
TL;DR
- Patrick Stewart grew up witnessing his father's violent behavior towards his mother.
- The domestic violence created an environment of fear and unpredictability, leaving the child feeling lonely and responsible.
- Stewart found acting to be a refuge, but initially feared expressing strong emotions on stage.
- A role in 'The Winter's Tale' in 1981 marked a turning point, allowing him to overcome his fear of emotional expression.
- He is now a patron of Refuge, a national domestic violence charity, highlighting the ongoing prevalence and cost of domestic abuse.
- Stewart advocates for speaking out against domestic violence, emphasizing that it is not a private matter.