Patrick Stewart opens up about childhood domestic abuse in new ITV documentary

Patrick Stewart has shared a deeply personal account of growing up in a violent household in an effort to raise awareness about domestic abuse. In a new ITV documentary, Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors, the 84-year-old actor opened up about the trauma he endured during his childhood. Reflecting on his experiences, Stewart recalled the challenges of living in a home where domestic violence was common, but rarely discussed.

Stewart explained that his father returned home after World War II in 1945, when Stewart was just six years old. He described the situation as "horrifying," with his father’s loud shouting reverberating throughout their home. “The shouting was so loud because he had a huge voice,” Stewart said, remembering how he would often scream at his father to stop as he physically assaulted Stewart's mother.

Stewart, alongside his brother Trevor, would often hide on the steps near the living room door, where they learned to anticipate the moments when violence would erupt. The two brothers would then rush into the room to protect their mother, with Trevor stepping between their father and mother to shield her. Stewart recalled how his mother would insist that she was fine, urging them not to intervene, even as violence continued.

The actor also shared a powerful moment when a neighbor intervened. The woman confronted Stewart's father during an outburst, challenging him to take his aggression out on her instead. Stewart recalled how his father backed down, but the experience left him feeling humiliated by his difficult upbringing.

The documentary, Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors, also highlights Queen Camilla’s work with domestic-abuse survivors and aims to give victims a platform to share their stories. The program is currently airing on ITV1 in the U.K.