Sir Patrick Stewart Takes Theatre Hiatus To Pursue Film Roles

The actor began his career onstage with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1960s but moved into TV in the 1980s with his role in legendary sci-fi show Star Trek.

Although he also enjoyed parts in the X-Men movie franchise, Stewart is still a familiar face in the West End and on Broadway - but now he's planning a lengthy break from the theatre to return to Hollywood.

Sir Patrick tells U.K. talk show host Graham Norton, "I have just done seven years of theatre and it's been the best seven years of my life. We filmed two of the stage productions I was in and I so enjoyed being in front of a camera again.

"I felt it would be a good time to see if I could kick-start a film career. I never really had a film career, I had a franchise career, so I've made a decision to take 18 months off and see what happens."