RACHEL IDZERDA/The Globe and Mail
In his new home-reno series, The Shatner Project, William Shatner and his wife, Liz, update their 100-year-old house (spoiler alert: hijinks ensue). It's just the latest project for the 83-year-old entertainment legend who recently sent Trekkies into a tizzy with news that he will appear in the upcoming Star Trek 3 movie. Here, the original Captain Kirk shares some of the secrets to his success, including why beauty (and pretty much everything else) is wasted on the young
Don't fight change
Renovation is exciting and creative, but it's also a change, which can be tough. I had to adjust my mind and free myself up to it. I had been living in the house [that we renovated] for a long time. My children grew up in that house. It's 100 years old and the last renovation was done 20 years ago. I knew it was time for change, but it was still hard for me to actually do it. You're attached to the way things are, if only because that's what you know. Sure, maybe the handles are coming off the cabinets and maybe there's grime on the floor, but at least it's my grime. I don't know this first hand, or first face, but I guess it's like contemplating cosmetic surgery.
You have to stay healthy to stay in the game
The only advice I can offer about longevity in show business would be that health is of paramount importance. Entertaining is all about having the energy for life and love and passion; it's impossible to project that if it's not in you. At my age a lot of that comes down to luck – not coming into contact with dreaded diseases, I didn't break a bone that became arthritic – but there are things you can do to improve your chances of staying healthy. We all know what those rules are and following them is all about discipline. I have tried to follow the rules, to practise moderation and exercise and avoid the bad things without being monastic about it. Health is important, but on the other hand, there's no point in maintaining your health if you're not enjoying your life.
Everything is wasted on the young
I don't watch myself on screen because I don't need to remind myself of how up there I have gotten in age. The funny thing is that I have always been this way. Even when I was 21, I didn't like to watch myself at 17, for the same reason. I don't know why I had such a bad self-image – I was looking pretty good back then and it's too bad that I wasn't able to enjoy or appreciate that in the moment. Everything changes when you get older. I have been running pretty hard this last year – this new TV show, other film projects, promotional projects, lots of things. I know I could sit back, but I don't want to. In the last month I've been to Australia, London, New York, Washington, Nashville. There's a glory in being able to do that at my age and since I never know when it's going to stop, both from a physical and commercial point of view, I'm just enjoying the traffic.
Spousing 101
There's an adage about business that you have to learn from your failures and I believe that applies to all relationships, including marriage. One of the things that I've learned is the importance of empathy. That's not innate – a child doesn't know empathy, you have to teach them and it's a lesson that takes some people longer than others. I've been working at it my whole life. I really try to understand what my wife is thinking and where she is coming from and she does the same. I think I make a great husband and I've said that again and again.
The Shatner Project premieres Oct. 26 on DIY Network Canada.
This interview has been condensed and edited by Courtney Shea.