Este 2025 trajo una muy grata sorpresa, una entrevista que fue un regalo. Poder hablar con un actor que he podido ver trabajar durante muchos años, Malcolm Stewart. Como amante de la ciencia ficción y las series de televisión, he podido verle en "Smallville", "Expediente X", "Andromeda", "Galactica", "Fringe", "Arrow", "Stargate", "Kyle XL", y en películas como "Jumanji", "Grace" y "Moon". En teatro, debutó con el montaje "Dracula" junto a Frank Langella.

Un actor todoterreno que ha trabajado a lo largo de su dilatada carrera en teatro, televisión y cine, junto a actrices y actores de la talla de Robin Williams, David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Kirstie Alley, Sam Rockwell, Catherine Zeta Jones, Edward James Olmos, Tom Welling, Kevin Costner, William Hurt, Demi Moore y Ashley Judd entre muchos otros.

Thank you so much, Malcolm for this interview.

A Escena Valencia: How did your career as an actor begin?

Malcolm Stewart: My professional career started in New York City in 1975 but the seed was planted much earlier.

After my parents left England in 1956 and then Canada in 1959 I grew up in a small ski town in Vermont which happened to have a small professional repertory theatre. Years later I would have conversation with Meryl Streep and discovered that she too had performed there as a young teenager. My first time on stage was playing “Taplow” in Terrance Rattigan’s  “The Browning Version.”

What I remember most is that it afforded me time away from my normal routine as a fourteen year old boy living with his parents. At the theatre I was treated as a fellow cast member and most importantly…an adult. So, that was where the acting seed was planted. Flash forward to New York City in 1975 where I was a graduate student in the School of International Affairs at Columbia University on 116th and Broadway. 

I was under thirty and was struggling with what was to become the biggest decision of my life. I resigned my fellowship from Columbia University and became a professional actor. It was not easy in the beginning as I had to take whatever work I could get to make ends meet living in Manhattan. After a few months  roles were offered, some paid and some did not but I was acting and to me that was all that mattered.

A Escena Valencia: You have a long professional career where you have worked on many film, television and theatre projects, which are also very different. What does being an actor give you?

Malcolm Stewart: Acting has always given me the same feeling since that first time on stage in 1962. A feeling that I along with a good director and other cast members are privileged to create something special.

In live theatre no one is going to yell “Cut”…you are on your own and in that respect it is a very powerful feeling, especially when you sense the audience is hanging on your every word. In film it is an often a little less collaborative but you have been cast for a reason which to me says “We trust you…go for it!"

A Escena Valencia: I started getting to know your work through the "X Files" series. There is a chapter that really impacted me because of the work you did. You were a doctor and as an actor you had to use a lot of imagination for that scene. What was it like working on that scene in "Tunguska”?

Malcolm Stewart: I remember those two episodes well. It was not the first time I had guest starred on X-Files and I liked Gillian Anderson immensely. She was gracious, generous and enormously talented. David was a little different in that he was less approachable. As i recall, the very last scene of a very long night was the scene where my character explained the exact nature of the strange rocks that we had in our possession. It was a ton of scientific jargon and all of us were exhausted. It is in situations like that where, as an actor, you earn your pay check. You are a professional and they expect you to deliver…no matter what.

The other scene which I think you are referring to involved computer generated “Bugs” crawling over my face in a hazmat suit. Different day and in all honesty a much easier one. 
The best part for me was the director telling me to flinch when Gillian takes a close look at my lifeless body. He did not tell Gillian I was going to do that and she jumped right out of her skin. She was not acting! That was fun.

A Escena Valencia: Your career as an actor is closely linked to science fiction. You have participated in series such as "X Files", "Smallville", "Galactica", "Fringe", "Kyle XL", "Dead Zone", "Andromeda" "Taken"... What do you think it is about science fiction that the public likes so much?

Malcolm Stewart: Short answer: Imagination.
The audience gets to go somewhere they can only imagine. They are no longer constrained to four walls and Mother Earth. Anything is possible.

A Escena Valencia: Your Broadway debut was in "Dracula" with Frank Langella. Other Broadway shows include "Bedroom Farce" and "Torch Song Trilogy." What does theatre give you as an actor?

Malcolm Stewart: For this I shall refer back to my answer in question 2.

A Escena Valencia: A question that I asked myself while reviewing some of your films and series that I have seen. I was remembering your characters in some series and movies and there is a type of character that you have repeated several times, such as a doctor. How many doctors have you played in your career?

Malcolm Stewart: I sometimes jokingly say to friends and fans “I am not a Doctor, but I have played one on TV!”
I would have to go through my own IMDB profile to answer this but a rough guess would be 30 to 40 times.

A Escena Valencia: One movie I remember was "Moon," a science fiction product that was a hit. Is there a film or series that has marked an important moment in your career as an actor?

Malcolm Stewart: Moon was the only film I have ever made in England as an English actor. It was such a privilege to work at the famed Shepparton Studios and to work with Duncan Jones and Sam Rockwell.
In terms of science fiction Moon was a bit of a door opener as it took me to the famed Sundance Film Festival. 

A Escena Valencia: I was also very happy to see you in "Jumanji" and in the television version of "Titanic." They are films and series that pass the years and remain very alive for the public. Have you played any character that has been a bigger challenge for you as an actor than the others? Some character you remember in a special way…

Malcolm Stewart: It is always a challenge to play characters that are nothing like me at all.
I would put Dr. Sohn in Grace, Dr. Werthers in Season 7 of Riverdale and pretty much any muderer I have ever played.
My character as myself (Malcolm) in Best In Show seems to resonate with a lot of people.

A Escena Valencia: How do you approach your work as an actor when meeting your character for the first time? Do you have a method or are you more instinctive?

Malcolm Stewart: I am definatly not method. A director once told me I was the most instinctive actor he had ever worked with…that was a great compliment. I always  take the character, the situation and even the wardrobe into consideration. I really never know what is going to happen until I hear “Action!” Sometimes every take is different.

A Escena Valencia: Going back to your first roles on television, 1984, 1986... I was 2 and 4 years old. What were those first castings like, going to the filming…

Malcolm Stewart: As I recall, I was very happy to get an audition and even happier to get the job.
I do recall playing Ann Margaret’s date in “A New Life” directed by Alan Alda of M.A.S.H. fame…that was a highlight.

A Escena Valencia: I want to ask you about a very special circumstance that you experienced. In 2009 you were honoured to be the only actor featured in three films at the prestigious 2009 Sundance Film Festival. "Moon" with Sam Rockwell, "Grace" a psychological thriller and "Helen" with Ashley Judd. How did you live it?

Malcolm Stewart: Not sure what you mean but yes I was invited there for those three projects. It was a week of Interviews, screenings, parties and even skiing. None of which resulted in work.

A Escena Valencia: As a curiosity, in addition to being an actor, I have read that you are a licensed pilot. I would like to ask you about this?

Malcolm Stewart: I learned to fly small planes in the 70’s and loved it. When I was in Dracula in 1977 -1978 I would often take off from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey on a Sunday evening after the matinee performance and fly up to see relatives in Vermont and then fly back on the Tuesday in time for the evening show. When the producers found out I was doing that they were not happy as apparently I was not allowed to do that per my contract. I still have my liscence but have not flown in many years.

A Escena Valencia: At this moment, what new projects do you have as an actor? Honestly, I would love to know more anecdotes from your life and make this interview more extensive. I don't know if you have thought about writing or have already done so. Unfortunately, in Spain I have not been able to see all your work. The first time was with X Files.

Malcolm Stewart: Currently, I am enjoying family and semi retirement but occasionaly accept an offer. Also, I have just signed with TriStar Apperances to appear at Sci Fi conventions around the world. There are some in Spain I am told. I have written two scripts:“Grounded” a feature length film and “Cut” a pilot for television