Good morning everyone, hope all is well! 😁 it’s been a wild two weeks, firstly my mum’s operation was confirmed and scheduled for the 4th of February, the surgery she ended up having is a rare type of surgery (less than 100 people have had it), that she had done, and despite being told she would be staying in overnight, she came out later that night! hopefully, if everything went alright and nothing went wrong, she’ll be able to eat properly without any problems🤞🏼BUT back to what else has previously happened; our tv broadband stopped working all of a sudden so we had to issue a new one, my mum and I both got new glasses 🤓 as I somehow lost mine (we looked everywhere in the house from top to bottom), and to top it all off we had to quickly get a new wheelchair as mine decided to break (the arm rest fell off, the back broke away almost causing a few incidents, etc…) so it’s been a “fun” time.

Anyway on with this week’s post which is to celebrate the very talented Michael Sheen’s birthday 🎉 Michael is a talented Welsh actor who has captivated audiences around the world with his versatility and charm. With a career spanning over three decades, Sheen has showcased his acting prowess across various mediums, including film, television, and stage. Known for his ability to bring characters to life with depth and authenticity, Sheen has portrayed a wide range of roles, from real-life figures like Tony Blair and David Frost to iconic fictional characters like Dracula and Lucian in the “Underworld” series.

Michael Sheen

Mini Biography:

Michael Christopher Sheen born on 5 February 1969 in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales is a Welsh actor. After training at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), he worked mainly in theatre throughout the 1990s with stage roles in Romeo and Juliet (1992), Don’t Fool with Love (1993), Peer Gynt (1994), The Seagull (1995), The Homecoming (1997), and Henry V (1997). He received Olivier Award nominations for his performances in Amadeus (1998) at the Old Vic, Look Back in Anger (1999) at the National Theatre, and Caligula (2003) at the Donmar Warehouse.

Sheen was raised in a theatrical family; his parents were both involved in local amateur operatics and musicals and, later in life, his father worked as a part-time professional Jack Nicholson lookalike. In his teenage years, Sheen was involved with the West Glamorgan Youth Theatre and, later, the National Youth Theatre of Wales. Sheen was educated at Blaenbaglan Primary School, Glan Afan Comprehensive School, and, finally, Neath Port Talbot College where he sat A-levels in English, Dram, and Sociology. He considered studying English at university but instead decided to attend drama school. He moved to London in 1988 to train as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), having spent the previous year working in a Welsh fast-food restaurant called Burger Master to earn money. Sheen was granted the Laurence Olivier Bursary by the Society of London Theatre in his second year at RADA. He graduated in 1991 with a BA in Acting.

Early this century Sheen began screen acting, focusing on biographical films. For writer Peter Morgan, he starred in a trilogy of films as British Prime Minister Tony Blair—the television film The Deal in 2003, The Queen (2006), and The Special Relationship (2010)—earning him nominations for both a BAFTA Award and an Emmy. He was also nominated for a BAFTA as the troubled comic actor Kenneth Williams in BBC Four’s 2006 Fantabulosa!, and was nominated for a fourth Olivier Award in 2006 for portraying the broadcaster David Frost in Frost/Nixon, a role he revisited in the 2008 film adaptation of the play. He starred as the controversial football manager Brian Clough in The Damned United (2009).

Since 2009 Sheen has had a wider variety of roles. In 2009, he appeared in two fantasy films, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans and The Twilight Saga: New Moon, and in 2010, he made a four-episode guest appearance in the NBC comedy 30 Rock. He appeared in the science-fiction film Tron: Legacy (2010) and Woody Allen’s romantic comedy Midnight in Paris (2011). He directed and starred in National Theatre Wales’s The Passion. From late 2011 until early 2012, he played the title role in Hamlet at the Young Vic. He played a lead role in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 in 2012. In 2013, he received a Golden Globe nomination for his role in Showtime’s television drama Masters of Sex.

Sheen played an incarcerated serial killer surgeon in Fox’s drama series Prodigal Son (2019–2021), Aziraphale in the BBC/Amazon Studios fantasy comedy series Good Omens (2019–present), and appeared as Chris Tarrant in Quiz (2020). He played himself in the quarantine comedy show Staged (2020–2022) with his friend and Good Omens co-star David Tennant throughout the COVID-19 lockdown. Sheen is politically engaged, and in 2017 he renounced being an OBE after researching Wales’s relationship with England.

Sheen is honorary president of Wales Council for Voluntary Action, the lead national body for the voluntary sector in Wales. He is also an ambassador for TREAT Trust Wales and is the Welsh ambassador of Into Film, a charity that offers after-school film clubs to state primary and secondary schools to improve literacy levels. He is also an ambassador of the environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy. Sheen is a patron of British charities, including Scene & Heard, NSPCC’s Child’s Voice Appeal, Healing the Wounds, The Relationships Centre, WGCADA (West Glamorgan Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse) and Adferiad Recovery, a new organization providing support for vulnerable people in Wales and their families and carers. He has taken part in several charity football matches, including captaining the winning Soccer Aid 2010 team at Wembley Stadium, as well as appearing in the 2012 and 2014 matches. He is a patron of the British Independent Film Awards, an ambassador for the Dylan Thomas Prize, and vice-president of Port Talbot Town F.C. In October 2018, Sheen sponsored a women’s football team in Wales.

In 2014 Sheen designed a Shakespeare-themed Paddington Bear statue. Placed outside Shakespeare’s Globe, it was one of fifty statues of Paddington located around London before the release of the film Paddington, which were auctioned to raise funds for the NSPCC. In 2017, Sheen founded the End High-Cost Credit Alliance to promote more affordable ways to borrow money. In October 2018, Sheen and Natasha Kaplinsky became vice presidents (an ambassadorial role) of the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH). Sheen is a fundraising partner with the non-profit organization, The White Curl, which supports Welsh charities. As of 2023, his campaigns with The White Curl raised over £110,000 for Welsh charities and causes.

Facts

• He was a good footballer and was offered a place in Arsenal’s youth team when he was 12. He could not accept the offer as his family refused to relocate to London. He soon lost interest in playing football.

• Michael once worked in a fast food joint to support his career. He spent time working at a Welsh fast-food restaurant called Burger Master before he moved to London to start training at RADA.

• In 1992, he appeared in the plays Romeo and Juliet and Don’t Fool With Love the following year. In 1993, he also appeared in Harold Pinter’s ‘Moonlight’ and made his television debut in ‘BBC’ mini-series ‘Gallowglass.’

• The best advice he was ever given about acting came from actress Fiona Shaw. After seeing his performance in Look Back in Anger at the National Theatre, she said he was very good, but told him to be careful not to enjoy himself too much, which was what he was doing during the play.

• Sheen is known for his ability to seamlessly transition between stage, film, and television. His versatility allows him to excel in various mediums, captivating audiences in different formats.

• Two of his paternal great-great-great-grandparents, Edward Sheehan and Catherine Hickey, were Irish. The surname “Sheehan” was later changed to “Sheen”.

• His interest in acting was kindled by studying for school plays, and his parents were also known to dabble in amateur dramatics. Even now, his father enjoys some success impersonating Jack Nicholson. His cousin, Caroline is also a celebrated West End actress.

• Sheen was in a relationship with English actress Kate Beckinsale from 1995 until 2003. They met when cast in a touring production of The Seagull in early 1995, and began living together shortly afterwards. Their daughter Lily Mo was born in 1999 in London. Their relationship ended in January 2003, soon after the couple moved to Los Angeles.

• Sheen had a long-distance relationship with English ballet dancer Lorraine Stewart from late 2004 until mid-2010. He dated Canadian actress Rachel McAdams from autumn 2010 to early 2013 and American comedian and actress Sarah Silverman from early 2014 to early 2018.

• Sheen now lives in Port Talbot, Wales with his current partner, actress Anna Lundberg. The couple have two daughters together, born in September 2019 and May 2022.

• Michael Sheen has played former British Prime Minister Tony Blair three times? The first time he stepped into the role was in Peter Morgan’s The Deal, Then, in Morgan’s 2006 biopic The Queen, and the final time Three years later, he reprised the role again in The Special Relationship.

• Michael’s naturally curly hair in The Special Relationship (2010) had to be straightened to resemble the character of former English Prime Minister Tony Blair

• When Michael was cast as Aro, he had no clue of who the character is nor what are his characteristics. He learned as much as he could including the character’s back story from his daughter Lily Mo Sheen who is a fan of the series.

• Michael Sheen drew inspiration from Mae West and Ziggy Stardust (a persona of singer David Bowie) for his performance in Tron: Legacy (2010).

• Sheen voiced the iconic character of White Rabbit in Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland.” His distinctive voice lent itself well to this whimsical and memorable character.

• Sheen is known for his chameleon-like ability to disappear into his roles. Whether it’s a real-life figure or a fictional character, Sheen brings depth and authenticity to his performances.

• Sheen’s dedication to his craft is evident in his physical transformations for roles. From gaining or losing weight to altering his appearance, he fully commits to bringing characters to life.

• He has a passion for storytelling and has lent his talent to audiobooks. Michael Sheen’s captivating narration enhances the experience of listening to various literary works.

• He has a great sense of humor and has demonstrated his comedic chops in various comedic roles. Michael Sheen’s natural comedic timing adds a layer of entertainment to his performances.

• His great sense of humor is also seen in interviews and public appearances. He often brings a lighthearted and fun energy to his interactions with others.

• Sheen is known for political and social activism. Examples include campaigning against high-cost credit agreements, crises in local journalism, and describing himself as a not-for-profit actor due to his contributions to social causes.

• In 2019, Sheen sold his own houses to fund the Homeless World Cup in Cardiff when its £2,000,000 funding fell through at the last minute. In 2020, he raised more than £33,000 to help people in Wales whose homes have been hit by flooding in the wake of Storm Dennis.

• He is an inspiration to aspiring actors around the world, proving the power of dedication and perseverance in achieving success. Michael’s journey in the entertainment industry serves as a testament to the rewards of hard work and passion for the craft.

• He has made calls for discussions about Welsh independence and has made comments about the institution of the “Prince of Wales” title. In 2024, Sheen showed support to a cross-party campaign of Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour focused on devolving the Crown Estate to Wales. He also called for a Fair Banking Act to help tackle the unaffordable credit crisis in the UK.

• Sheen has a strong presence on social media and uses it to engage with fans and promote his work. He recognizes the importance of connecting with his audience and utilizes online platforms to do so.

• Lived with fellow Welsh actor and friend Matthew Rhys for some time in Los Angeles. They had previously shared a flat, along with Ioan Gruffudd, when living in London.

• He is a supporter of Swansea City A.F.C.

• His favorite film is A Matter of Life and Death (1946). Other favorite films include Apocalypse Now (1979), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), 12 Monkeys (1995), and The Last Temptation of Christ (1988).

• His favorite album of all time is “War of the Worlds” by Jeff Wayne.

• His favorite song to karaoke is Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline.

Conclusion:

Michael Sheen is a highly talented and versatile actor who has captivated audiences with his exceptional performances over the years. With a career spanning both stage and screen, Sheen has showcased his incredible range and ability to inhabit a wide range of characters. From his breakout role in “The Queen” to his memorable portrayals in films like “Frost/Nixon” and “Masters of Sex,” Sheen has consistently delivered powerful and nuanced performances. His dedication to his craft and his ability to truly connect with audiences has made him a beloved figure in the entertainment industry.

Thank you for coming to my blog and reading today’s post, I hope you enjoyed finding out about Michael Sheen as much as I did whilst writing it. I’m off to take care of my mum, so I shall bid you adieu and say stay warm with the weather being up and down and I will see you back here in a couple of weeks!