Michael Sheen bio, relationships, movies, wife, height, age, children 2025

Biography of Michael Sheen

Michael Sheen is a Welsh-British actor who first gained widespread recognition for his spot-on portrayal of British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the films "The Deal," "The Queen," and "The Special Relationship." Sheen achieved international fame after playing the vampire Aro in "The Twilight Saga." From 2019 to 2021, he brilliantly portrayed the serial killer Dr. Martin Whitly, also known as The Surgeon, in the television series "Prodigal Son." His fanbase exploded after playing the angel Aziraphale in the TV series "Good Omens."

The actor's resume includes over fifty roles. He has been nominated for the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award four times and has received multiple nominations for the Golden Globe, Saturn, BAFTA, and Emmy awards.

Childhood and Youth

Michael Christopher Sheen was born in the winter of 1969 to parents Irene and Meyrick Sheen from Newport, Wales. Later, the family welcomed a sister, Joanne, and a brother, John.

Michael Sheen in childhood with his parents

Michael's parents worked in human resources, and his father moonlighted as a professional Jack Nicholson impersonator, appearing at city festivals and various shows.

When Michael was five, his family moved to Liverpool, home of the legendary Beatles. It was there that the boy developed a serious passion for football, playing first for neighborhood teams, then for a city team:

All I did as a kid was play football. It's all I ever dreamt about. All my desires were about becoming a professional football player. I was a big fan of Brian Clough. When I was 12, I was invited to join Arsenal, one of Britain's top football clubs. But this meant my parents would have had to move from a small town in Wales to London. I knew that would never happen, so I declined the offer. I think if I'd taken that chance, maybe things would've worked out differently.

By the time Michael received this offer, the family had already moved to the industrial port city of Port Talbot on the Bristol Channel coast. He attended Glan Afan School and played for the Baglan boys' football team.

During his final school years, Sheen became interested in theater and began performing in amateur productions. His idols were Patrick Stewart and Daniel Day-Lewis. Michael studied at college, taking drama and sociology courses, before graduating from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

After finishing college, Michael planned to continue his education at the University of London, but once he arrived in the capital, he changed his mind and enrolled at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). The young man earned the money for his first year of study himself, working part-time at the Burger Master restaurant.

Early Theater Roles

During his second year, Sheen landed the prestigious Laurence Olivier Bursary after delivering a standout performance in Martin Sherman's "When She Danced" at the Globe Theatre. Michael couldn't believe his sudden breakthrough:

It's hard to believe! One day you're messing around in movement class and the next you're reading scenes with Vanessa Redgrave and Frances de la Tour!

Sheen's roles in the productions of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," Alfred de Musset's "No Trifling with Love," and Harold Pinter's "Moonlight" were equally successful.

At the rehearsal of the production 'No Trifling with Love'

In 1991, Michael earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, graduating from the academy with honours and continued to perform on the stages of London theaters in famous productions.

He toured Britain, Norway, and Japan with Henrik Ibsen's "Peer Gynt," and in 1995 took on Chekhov's "The Seagull" at the Royal Theatre.

In 1997, Michael tackled King Henry V in Shakespeare's historical drama, then took on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at the Old Vic Theatre. The production transferred to Broadway, earning him a Laurence Olivier Award nomination. It was this role that caught the attention of Hollywood directors.

Michael Sheen in the production 'Amadeus'

He earned another nomination in 1999 for his powerful portrayal of Jimmy in "Look Back in Anger" at the National Theatre. Among Sheen's theatrical roles is also Caligula in the eponymous play.

Film Roles

Michael's film debut came in 1993. He played the mentally disturbed youth Joe in the mini-series "Gallowglass." His character accidentally witnesses a kidnapping that completely turns his life upside down.

The Slave. Michael Sheen's first movie role

The actor then appeared in Kenneth Branagh's classic drama "Othello," where he played Lodovico, and in Stephen Frears' thriller "Mary Reilly" as Bradshaw. But Sheen's standout role from this era came in the biopic "Wilde."

Playing Robert Ross, the great writer's lover, he delivered a compelling performance. This led to starring roles in the comedic dramas "The Four Feathers" (as Colin) and "Bright Young Things" (as Miles).

Many fans remember him as rock star Thorne Jamison, who gets caught up in the main characters' messy divorce in the comedy "Laws of Attraction." On set, Michael worked with Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore.

In 2004, Sheen was nominated for a BAFTA Award for his role as Mark in the drama "Dirty Filthy Love." He received the same nomination for his portrayal of British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the historical film "The Queen," which won an Oscar. This character became Sheen's signature role—he'd go on to play the politician in three different films.

Michael Sheen as Tony Blair in 'The Queen'

In the biographical drama "Frost/Nixon," Michael delivered a brilliant performance as the journalist determined to interview the former U.S. President. The performance earned him another prestigious nomination, this time from the Screen Actors Guild.

With Samuel L. Jackson and Carrie-Anne Moss, Sheen starred in the thriller "Unthinkable" (Stephen Arthur Younger), and with Bill Nighy and Rhona Mitra—in the three parts of the action horror "Underworld" (Lycan Lucian).

Michael Sheen on the set of 'Underworld'

Sheen found a whole new level of fame when he joined the blockbuster vampire saga "Twilight." Playing Aro—the cunning and dangerous leader of the Volturi clan—he and his followers create serious problems for the film's protagonists, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson).

Sheen admitted:

What worried me the most was that someone would remember that I played a werewolf in both parts of 'Underworld.' So transforming from a werewolf into a vampire was pretty nerve-wracking for me. But I love Aro. I think that despite being terrifying, there's something genuinely touching about him too. I'm thrilled that I got the chance to terrify a whole new generation of fans.

Michael scored another hit with Woody Allen's mystical comedy "Midnight in Paris," playing the character Paul Bates.

A scene from the film 'Midnight in Paris'

In 2011, Sheen took on an ambitious personal project, serving as creative director and lead actor in a marathon 72-hour performance of "The Passion" at the National Theatre of Wales. The production featured not just professional actors, but over a thousand ordinary English people who joined the performance. The BBC captured the groundbreaking production in a documentary.

Michael Sheen in Craing Ferguson's show

TV fans got another treat when Sheen took on the role of Dr. William Masters in the acclaimed drama "Masters of Sex." Alongside him in the leading roles were Lizzie Caplan and Teddy Sears.

Sheen starred alongside Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt in the sci-fi film "Passengers" as Arthur, the robot bartender, and appeared with Carey Mulligan and Matthias Schoenaerts in the drama "Far from the Madding Crowd" as William Boldwood. He also participated in the projects "Alice in Wonderland" and "Alice Through the Looking Glass," voicing the White Rabbit.

As preacher Malcolm Howe, Michael appeared before viewers in the mystical drama "Apostle." In the summer of 2019, audiences fell in love with the brilliant pairing of Michael Sheen and David Tennant. They played the leading roles in the series "Good Omens," an adaptation of a novel by two legendary fantasy writers, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.

Michael Sheen and David Tennant Talk Good Omens

Michael and David's characters—angel Aziraphale and demon Crowley—have been living on Earth for ages, have grown to love the human world, and even became friends despite their ideological differences. But when Satan's heir is born, it threatens their comfortable arrangement, and now the unlikely friends must prevent the Apocalypse—even though both Hell and Heaven are rooting for it.

David Tennant and Michael Sheen in the series 'Good Omens'

Just when it seemed Sheen had tackled every possible role, the FOX series "Prodigal Son" premiered in 2019, and fans found themselves glued to their screens once again. Even the cardigan worn by brilliant Manhattan doctor Martin Whitly becomes a terrifying sight—the man stands accused of at least twenty brutal serial murders. Dr. Whitly is locked away in a psychiatric facility, and since he's "bored," he begins playing twisted mind games with his own son Malcolm Bright (Tom Payne), a forensic psychologist working with the NYPD. Sheen's performance is so chillingly convincing that his twisted "dad jokes" will make your skin crawl. Viewers watched this series with bated breath until the summer of 2021.

Michael Sheen in the series 'Prodigal Son'

In spring 2021, the actor revealed on Twitter that he, his wife, and their young daughter had all contracted COVID-19. Michael himself battled a severe case, struggling with the virus for several weeks, and admitted it was "quite difficult and scary." Anna and their daughter had a much easier time with the virus. After recovering, Sheen thanked everyone who offered moral support and kind words during his illness.

That same year saw the release of season two of "Staged," the lockdown-born series that captured quarantine life. Sheen reunited with his friend David Tennant, with both actors playing themselves navigating their work-free quarantine lives.

Also in 2021, Sheen took the lead in the Christmas drama "Last Train to Christmas," a clever twist on Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." His character—a fixture of London's 80s bohemian scene—attempts to right a mistake that's haunted him for decades.

Michael Sheen in the film 'Last Train to Christmas'

Michael Sheen's Personal Life

Michael Sheen first met actress and model Kate Beckinsale through the work of Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. They performed together in Chekhov's play "The Seagull" at the Royal Theatre. Their workplace romance quickly blossomed into something serious, and though Michael never married his beloved, they lived together for nine years and welcomed their daughter Lily Mo in 1999.

Michael Sheen and Kate Beckinsale were together for nine years

To spend as much time as possible with his daughter, the actor even moved from London to New York, but he never made things official with her mother, often saying: "When you don't return a book to the library for too long, you start to feel like it's yours."

Michael Sheen with Kate and daughter: 15 years later

Their relationship changed during the filming of "Underworld: Evolution," where Kate played the lead role and Michael appeared as Lucian. Sparks flew between the actress and the film's director, Len Wiseman, and Kate soon married him.

Sheen understood his ex's feelings and kept things friendly between them for their daughter's sake. The media often published photos of the parents spending time with Lily Mo in children's parks.

After his split with Kate, the actor stayed single for a while. In 2004, he had a brief romance with actress Anastasia Griffith. Then Michael met ballerina Lorraine Stewart, and their relationship lasted until 2010.

The couple split without any public explanation, and Sheen was soon spotted with Canadian actress Rachel McAdams, whom he met on the set of "Midnight in Paris." Photos of the happy couple regularly hit the press, and fans eagerly awaited engagement news, but after three years, Michael and Rachel called it quits.

Sheen had a brief relationship with Carrie Keagan, and in 2014, he entered into a new romantic relationship with American comedic actress Sarah Silverman. Four years later, Silverman announced on Twitter that they'd broken up due to the challenges of long distance.

For four years, Michael Sheen's girlfriend was Sarah Silverman

In 2019, news broke of Sheen's new love interest, young actress Anna Lundberg. That September, Sheen posted a brief tweet announcing the birth of his beautiful daughter Lyra. He expressed his profound gratitude to "Louise and all the brilliant midwives at Singleton and Neath Port Talbot hospitals." In 2022, they welcomed their second daughter together.

Anna Lundberg is 26 years younger than Michael Sheen

Michael Sheen Now

In 2022, Sheen appeared in the series "The Sandman," an adaptation of Neil Gaiman's graphic novel. The second season of "Good Omens" was released in 2023. This season focused on the personal relationship between Aziraphale and Crowley, alongside the archangel Gabriel's storyline. Sheen shared his experience working with actor Jon Hamm, who played Gabriel:

I loved playing scenes where Jon just sits there with that silly smirk on his face, driving Aziraphale crazy. Those were fantastic scenes. It was wonderful seeing Jon again – we had such a blast together in the first season, and I know Jon beyond just 'Good Omens,' so it was amazing to spend more time together.

Sheen also starred as one of the central characters in the drama "Best Interests" (2023) and made his directorial debut with the series "The Way" (co-directed with Adam Curtis), which premiered in February 2024. Critics called "The Way" "a gripping drama unlike anything else on television." Set in Sheen's hometown of Port Talbot, the story follows civil unrest that erupts after a teenager dies in a vat of molten metal at the steel plant and his father sets himself on fire in protest.

Interesting Facts

During drama school, Michael Sheen captained the football team. He admitted these were the most aggressive matches he'd ever played in – aspiring actors wanted to prove they weren't weaklings, and games often ended in bloody fights with injured players carried off unconscious.
In "Frost/Nixon," Sheen starred alongside Frank Langella. Both had previously performed in Peter Morgan's stage play about the journalist and president, so they simply reprised their roles as David Frost and Richard Nixon for the film.
Sheen looks so ordinary in everyday life that Victoria Beckham once called police at the school their children attended together – she didn't recognize him and thought he was a kidnapper.
In 2009, Michael Sheen was awarded the Order of the British Empire, but in 2017 he declined the royal honor and returned it. He explained that he'd deeply researched Welsh history while preparing a lecture on the relationship between his homeland and England. The sticking point was the title "Prince of Wales," which was hereditary while the country was independent. But when Wales became part of England, British monarchs claimed the title. Michael realized: "I would be a hypocrite if I kept the order while saying what I planned to say in my lecture about the relationship between Wales and the British state." He also emphasized that he did not consider his action to be a gesture of disrespect.

Photos: Michael Sheen