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New York - Michael J Fox thinks Parkinson's disease has improved his acting.
The Back to the Future star was diagnosed with the degenerative nerve disorder - which can include shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement and difficulty with walking - in 1991 and he admitted over time it has meant he's had to step out of his comfort zone as a performer.
He told Rolling Stone magazine: ''I had a certain fluidity to my movements and rhythm of speech and a physicality that I had depended on.
"It served me really well, but when that was taken away, I found that there was other stuff that I could use.
"That hesitation, that Parkinsonian affect, is an opportunity to just pause in a moment and collect as a character and respond to what's happening and just gave me this kind of gravitas.''
Billy Connolly diagnosis
The 52-year-old actor will be making his return to TV later this year with The Michael J Fox Show, and he admitted he has stopped worrying about what might happen while he's in front of the camera.
He explained: "Now it's just like, 'Okay, what's happening?' And something happens, I react to it and if nothing happens, I don't react.
"I don't worry about that bit I was going to do or the look I was gonna give because when I get there I may not be able to give that look or do that thing or move that glass."
It was revealed on Monday that Billy Connolly is showing early signs of the disease after fully recovering from prostate cancer.
His spokesperson previously said: "Billy Connolly recently underwent minor surgery in America after being diagnosed with the very early stages of prostate cancer. The operation was a total success, and Billy is fully recovered.
"In addition, Billy has been assessed as having the initial symptoms of Parkinson's disease."
The Back to the Future star was diagnosed with the degenerative nerve disorder - which can include shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement and difficulty with walking - in 1991 and he admitted over time it has meant he's had to step out of his comfort zone as a performer.
He told Rolling Stone magazine: ''I had a certain fluidity to my movements and rhythm of speech and a physicality that I had depended on.
"It served me really well, but when that was taken away, I found that there was other stuff that I could use.
"That hesitation, that Parkinsonian affect, is an opportunity to just pause in a moment and collect as a character and respond to what's happening and just gave me this kind of gravitas.''
Billy Connolly diagnosis
The 52-year-old actor will be making his return to TV later this year with The Michael J Fox Show, and he admitted he has stopped worrying about what might happen while he's in front of the camera.
He explained: "Now it's just like, 'Okay, what's happening?' And something happens, I react to it and if nothing happens, I don't react.
"I don't worry about that bit I was going to do or the look I was gonna give because when I get there I may not be able to give that look or do that thing or move that glass."
It was revealed on Monday that Billy Connolly is showing early signs of the disease after fully recovering from prostate cancer.
His spokesperson previously said: "Billy Connolly recently underwent minor surgery in America after being diagnosed with the very early stages of prostate cancer. The operation was a total success, and Billy is fully recovered.
"In addition, Billy has been assessed as having the initial symptoms of Parkinson's disease."
