The Sweet Advice Patrick Stewart Gave X-Men Co-Star Hugh Jackman About Life

Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman in Logan

Sometimes you come across someone in your life who seems to just get it, and Patrick Stewart just seems like he would be one of those people. The man seems to have lived quite the life, and he doesn't seem to be slowing down in the slightest, even though he is now in his 80s. And apparently, there's a reason the veteran performer has been able to keep everything together. Hugh Jackman, who has worked with Stewart on various X-Men films over the years, recently shared some pretty sweet life advice that the Star Trek star once shared with him - and you might want to look into following it, too.

Hugh Jackman recently spoke about what it's been like to work with icons Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, and he opened up about what he's learned from the two as well. During his recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, he spoke fondly of his relationship with Stewart in particular, which is when reflected on the warm words of advice he received from his longtime friend and co-star. Here it is in Jackman’s exact words:

I’ve learned so much from Patrick. The greatest tip he gave me about life itself, not so much about acting, he said, ‘I learned when I was about 60, and I wished I had learned it when I was younger, I give myself time of day at the beginning.’ So if he has a 5 a.m. wake-up call for a film, he wakes up a 4 a.m., he goes and gets a cup of tea, he comes back to bed with his favorite book. He says, ‘I don’t read the paper, it makes me angry. I don’t read emails, that stresses me. I don’t read a script, I get nervous. I just read a book, like a novel. So I know that no matter what happens for the rest of the day, I’ve had a half hour.'

Based on Hugh Jackman's sentiments, it doesn't really matter what you do with that single hour at the beginning of the day. All that matters is that you find something to do that is truly meaningful to you personally. This really sounds like a vital tool for a person’s mental health.

For Patrick Stewart, it may be reading a book, but it looks slightly different for Hugh Jackman. In the same interview, Jackman, who has taken his physical health pretty seriously, explained that he's since taken up this habit himself. Here’s what the Logan star had to say in regards to how he “gives himself time of day” in the morning:

So I’ve done that. My wife and I wake up every morning and we get a cup of tea, coffee for me, and we sit in bed and we just read.

Honestly, that sounds so peaceful, especially when you’re used to having some full and stressful days. Hugh Jackman has plenty happening in his career right now, but it seems a little less hectic now that we know he takes a beat every morning and just relaxes with a cup of coffee. This is certainly something most people could get on board with, and most of us would even have a leg up on Patrick Stewart if we start before we’re 60. And honestly, I can't think of a more serene and healthy way to one up an icon like Stewart.

Carlie Hoke
Content Writer

Constantly thinking about books, coffee, and the existential dread I feel from Bo Burnham’s Inside.  While writing I’m also raising a chaotic toddler, who may or may not have picked up personality traits from watching one too many episodes of Trailer Park Boys.