His 176-episode run as Captain Jean Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation transformed Sir Patrick Stewart from a classically trained, renowned stage actor into an international superstar. But before he took the job, Stewart had doubts the series was going to find success. The original series was cancelled after only three seasons and while the films were successful, they weren’t necessarily an indicator of ratings for the show. In the video above, Stewart talks about taking the leap of faith that rocketed him into stardom.

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