Michael J. Fox Responds to the Standing Ovation of BAFTA
Ahead of his Nashville charity event that will benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Fox had an interview with ET’s Rachel Smith on Tuesday.
Speaking candidly, Michael J. Fox discusses the standing ovation he received at the 2024 BAFTA Awards in February and the reasons he believes that people are so receptive to and committed to his message.
Ahead of this year’s A Country Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s, a musical charity gala supporting the Michael J. Fox Foundation and hosted on Tuesday at the Fisher Centre for the Performing Arts in Nashville, the actor, activist, and philanthropist spoke with ET’s Rachel Smith.
“It’s still really surprising,” Fox remarked of the overwhelming amount of love and support he received after making an unexpected appearance at the event, which took place at London’s Royal Festival Hall and for which he presented the night’s top prize, Best Film.
“I love it and I appreciate it, but I take it more as recognition of determination and resolve to solve the big problem, and that we all have the power to do whatever it is we can do to move things along,” Fox, 62, said in response to the standing ovation. “I think people are just saying, ‘Thanks for hanging in there and going after this.’ And I appreciate that.”
Fox clarified that he believes his unwavering attempts to fight Parkinson’s illness serve as a light and symbol for positivity.
“That’s what people were responding to at the BAFTAS,” Fox said. “The issue is that people really want to believe that we can do things, and I think they see me as somebody who’s doing that.”
David Tennant, a former member of Doctor Who, welcomed Fox at the star-studded BAFTAs ceremony earlier this year. Fox was wheeled to the stage in a wheelchair. When he emerged from behind the stage to present the award, the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
Alongside him on Tuesday at the A Country Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s event, which included performances and appearances by Sheryl Crow, Little Big Town, and Jason Isbell, Fox attended the ceremony with his 35-year wife, Tracy Pollan.
Regarding the concert, Fox remarked, “The support here is fantastic, and it’s nice to mix things up and go country.” “It’s nice to be in Nashville.”
Fox, who was 29 when he received his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis in 1991, told ET that he doesn’t really view his health in the same ways that most people do—that is, as something that comes with struggles or good days.
“After 35 years or something since I’ve been diagnosed, this is just my life and I don’t think about it much,” he commented about his illness. “I never give it a second thought. Apart from that, I’m considering what our community will do to solve this problem and discover a remedy; in the event that a cure cannot be found, we should [build] really innovative treatment facilities.”
“Me personally, it’s just who I am, and the way I was built,” he said. Not only am I trying to figure it out for myself, but I’m also trying to figure it out for everyone else. But things are what they are.”
“My life has been a great ride and it continues to be a great ride,” Michael stated. “And through all the challenges, it comes with all the good stuff.”