Michael Sheen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Sheen
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Sheen in 2018
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Michael Christopher Sheen
5 February 1969 Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales
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| Alma mater | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1991–present |
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| Children | 3 |
Michael Christopher Sheen (born 5 February 1969) is a famous actor from Wales. He is known for his amazing ability to play real-life people, like former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and TV host David Frost. He is also famous for his roles in fantasy movies and TV shows, such as the Twilight series, Good Omens, and Alice in Wonderland.
After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, Sheen became a star on the stage in the 1990s. He acted in many classic plays, including Romeo and Juliet and Henry V.
In the 2000s, he became well-known for his movie roles. He played Tony Blair in three different films: The Deal, The Queen, and The Special Relationship. He also played the football manager Brian Clough in The Damned United.
Sheen is also a dedicated activist who uses his fame to help others. He supports many charities and social causes, especially in his home country of Wales. In 2021, he announced he would be a "not-for-profit actor," meaning he gives his earnings to charity.
Early Life and First Steps in Acting
Michael Christopher Sheen was born on 5 February 1969, in Newport, Wales. His mother, Irene, was a secretary, and his father, Meyrick, was a personnel manager. He has a younger sister named Joanne. When he was eight, his family moved to Port Talbot, a town he still has strong connections with.
As a boy, Sheen was a very talented football player. When he was 12, he was offered a spot on the youth team for the famous Arsenal football club. However, his family did not want to move to London, so he stayed in Wales. He later said he was grateful for this, as becoming a professional footballer is very difficult.
Sheen grew up in a family that loved theatre. His parents were involved in local plays and musicals. In his teens, Sheen joined the West Glamorgan Youth Theatre and the National Youth Theatre of Wales. These experiences taught him a lot about acting and having a strong work ethic.
After finishing college, he decided to go to drama school instead of university. In 1988, he moved to London to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), one of the best acting schools in the world. He graduated in 1991 with a degree in Acting.
Career on Stage and Screen
Famous Stage Roles
In the 1990s, Michael Sheen was mainly a theatre actor. He has said he often feels more at home on stage. His first professional role was in 1991 in the play When She Danced, even before he had graduated from RADA.
Throughout the 1990s, he starred in many famous plays. He received awards and great reviews for his roles in Romeo and Juliet and Henry V. He also starred in a popular production of Amadeus, where he played the composer Mozart. The play was so successful it moved from London to Broadway in New York City. Critics praised his energetic and exciting performance.
In 2003, he played the Roman emperor in Caligula and won awards for his powerful performance. One of his most famous stage roles was playing TV host David Frost in the play Frost/Nixon, which he later played in the movie version.
Becoming a Movie Star
While Sheen was a star on stage, he also began working in movies. In 2003, he played the werewolf leader Lucian in the action-horror film Underworld. He returned to this role in the 2009 prequel, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans.
He became internationally famous for playing real people. He played British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the 2006 film The Queen, which showed the Royal Family's reaction to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. He also played the funny and troubled comedian Kenneth Williams in the TV film Fantabulosa! (2006).
In 2008, he starred in the movie Frost/Nixon, playing David Frost in his famous interviews with former U.S. President Richard Nixon. The next year, he played the legendary football manager Brian Clough in The Damned United (2009).
Fantasy and Comedy Roles
Sheen is also known for playing memorable characters in fantasy films. In 2009, he joined the Twilight series in The Twilight Saga: New Moon as Aro, the leader of the powerful Volturi vampire coven. He played the role with a mix of charm and menace.
In 2010, he voiced the White Rabbit in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. He also appeared in the science-fiction film Tron: Legacy (2010) and the comedy Midnight in Paris (2011).
From 2019, he has co-starred with his friend David Tennant in the popular fantasy series Good Omens, where he plays the angel Aziraphale. The two actors also starred in the comedy show Staged (2020–2022), which they filmed from their homes during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Activism and Charity Work
Michael Sheen is very passionate about helping people and making the world a better place. He is involved with many charities and social causes, especially those that help communities in his home country of Wales.
He is the honorary president of the Wales Council for Voluntary Action, which supports charities across Wales. He is also an ambassador for many organizations, including Into Film, which helps children learn through film clubs, and Keep Wales Tidy, an environmental charity.
Sheen has taken part in the Soccer Aid charity football match several times to raise money for UNICEF. In 2019, when the Homeless World Cup in Cardiff lost its funding, Sheen sold his own houses to make sure the event could still happen.
A "Not-for-Profit" Actor
In 2021, Sheen announced that he considers himself a "not-for-profit actor." This means he uses the money he earns from acting to fund social projects and charities. He started a fund called Mab Gwalia (which means Sons of Wales) to support community projects in Wales.
He also helped start A Writing Chance, a project that helps writers from working-class backgrounds get their stories heard. In 2024, it was revealed that Sheen had secretly set up a company to buy and forgive over £1 million of debt for 900 people in South Wales, using £100,000 of his own money.
Standing Up for Wales
Sheen often uses his voice to speak about issues important to Wales. He has given speeches about the importance of the NHS and has campaigned against unfair lending practices.
In 2024, he directed and starred in a BBC series called The Way, about an ordinary family caught up in social unrest in Wales. He also starred in a play called Nye, playing Aneurin Bevan, the Welsh politician who founded the NHS.
Personal Life
From 1995 to 2003, Michael Sheen was in a relationship with English actress Kate Beckinsale. They have a daughter, Lily Mo Sheen, who was born in 1999. Although they are no longer together, they remain good friends.
Sheen currently lives in his hometown of Port Talbot, Wales. His partner is Swedish actress Anna Lundberg. They have two daughters, born in 2019 and 2022.
Awards and Recognition
Michael Sheen has received many awards and nominations for his work in theatre, film, and television.
- He has been nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award, Britain's most important theatre award, four times.
- He has won a Critics' Circle Theatre Award and an Evening Standard Award for Best Actor for his stage work.
- For his television roles, he has been nominated for a BAFTA Award and an Emmy Award.
- In 2009, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to drama. He later returned the honour after learning more about the history between Wales and Britain.
- He has been given the freedom of his home borough, Neath Port Talbot, and has received honorary degrees from several universities.
Images for kids
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Sheen at the 2018 New York Comic Con
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Sheen's Shakespeare-themed Paddington Bear statue, which was sold to raise money for charity.
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Michael Sheen with his Variety Award at the British Independent Film Awards in 2008.
See also
In Spanish: Michael Sheen para niños
