Sir Patrick Stewart is serenading Instagram with daily sonnets

When “Star Trek” and “X-Men” actor Sir Patrick Stewart performed a reading of William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 16” on Instagram, he had no idea he was going to get so much positive feedback.

The video, which was posted on March 21, quickly garnered over 471,000 views and hundreds of comments.

Inspired, Stewart posted a follow-up post explaining a new plan: “When I was a child in the 1940s, my mother would cut up slices of fruit for me (there wasn’t much) and as she put it in front of me she would say: ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away.’ How about, ‘A sonnet a day keeps the doctor away’?”

Now it’s become a daily tradition.

The “Picard” actor has since gone in numerical order — starting on March 22 with Sonnet 1 — reading from the Folger Shakespeare Library’s book “Shakespeare’s Sonnets and Poems.” The only day he deviated from the order was on April 12, when he read “Sonnet 73” in honor of the late Sir Stirling Moss.

So, if you’re struggling to keep tally of how many days you’ve been self-isolating, Stewart’s daily sonnets may help (hint: he read Sonnet 36 on April 22).

Fans shared feedback and gratitude with the classically trained actor, praising him for giving them a brief moment to look forward to during the day.

“I love hearing these each day. Thank you so much, Patrick!” one Instagram follower commented.

“You are a national treasure, thanks for helping us get through these times,” responded another.

“Thanks for doing this! I look forward to it every day,” one person said.

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