Michael Sheen is a British actor of Welsh descent who gained popularity for his 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 fan army grew exponentially after playing the role of Aziraphale in the TV series "Good Omens."
Michael Sheen
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. Some time later, the family gave their firstborn a sister, Joanne, and a brother, John.
Michael Sheen in childhood with his parents
Michael's parents worked in human resources, and his father was also a professional Jack Nicholson look-alike, portraying him at city festivals and various shows.
Michael was five years old when his family moved to Liverpool, the city of the legendary Beatles. It was there that the boy developed a serious passion for football, playing first in neighborhood teams, then in 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 leading football teams. 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 had taken that chance, maybe things would have worked out.
By the time Michael received this offer, the family was already living in the port industrial city of Port Talbot on the Bristol Channel coast. He attended Glan Afan School and played for the Baglan boys' football team.
Michael Sheen with his family
In his senior 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 courses in drama and sociology, and later graduated from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Michael Sheen in his youth
After finishing college, Michael decided to continue his education at the University of London, but upon arriving 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
In his second year, Sheen was awarded the Laurence Olivier Bursary after playing a key role in Martin Sherman's play "When She Danced," debuting on the stage of the Globe Theatre. Michael admitted that he did not expect such staggering success:
It's hard to believe! One day you're fooling around in a movement class and the next you're reading roles 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.
Michael Sheen in his youth
For example, with the play "Peer Gynt" by Henrik Ibsen, he toured all over Britain, Norway, visited Japan, and in 1995 Sheen participated in a production of Chekhov's "The Seagull" at the Royal Theatre.
In 1997, Michael played King Henry V in a Shakespearean play, and then appeared as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on the stage of the Old Vic Theatre. With the same production, he performed on Broadway, after which he was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award. It was this role that caught the attention of Hollywood directors.
Michael Sheen in the production 'Amadeus'
He was nominated for the same award in 1999, masterfully playing the role of Jimmy in the production "Look Back in Anger," which was successfully staged at the National Theatre. Among Sheen's theatrical roles is also Caligula in the eponymous play.
Michael Sheen as Jimmy
Film Roles
Michael's film debut came in 1993. He played the mentally disturbed youth Joe in the mini-series "Gallowglass." His character accidentally becomes a witness to a kidnapping, which drastically changes his life.
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. However, Sheen's most notable role during this period was in the biopic "Wilde."
Michael Sheen in the film 'Othello'
As Robert Ross, the lover of the great writer, he was very convincing. Soon after, he was offered leading roles in comedic dramas "The Four Feathers" (Colin) and "Bright Young Things" (Miles).
A scene from the film 'Wilde'
Many movie fans remember him as rock star Thorne Jamison, who gets involved in the divorce proceedings of the main characters in the comedy "Laws of Attraction." On set, Michael worked with Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore.
Young Michael Sheen
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 iconic for Sheen—as he portrayed the politician in three films.
Michael Sheen as Tony Blair in 'The Queen'
In the biographical drama "Frost/Nixon," Michael brilliantly played the journalist who decided to interview the former President of America. Once again, the actor was nominated for a prestigious award, this time from the Screen Actors Guild.
On the set of the film 'Frost/Nixon'
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'
A new wave of popularity came to the actor with his participation in the famous vampire saga "Twilight." His character—the cunning and dangerous leader of the Volturi clan Aro, along with his followers—brought a lot of trouble to the main characters of the film, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson).
Michael Sheen in 'Twilight'
Sheen admitted:
What worried me the most was that someone would remember that I played a werewolf in both parts of 'Underworld.' So for me, the process of transforming from a werewolf into a vampire was quite stressful. But I love Aro. I think that, despite the fact that he's very scary, there's also something touching about him. I'm insanely glad that I got the chance to scare the current young generation.
Another success for Michael was participating in Woody Allen's mystical comedy "Midnight in Paris," where he landed the character of Paul Bates.
A scene from the film 'Midnight in Paris'
In 2011, Sheen undertook his own project: he became the creative director of a 72-hour performance of "The Passion" at the National Theatre of Wales and played the leading role. In the play, besides actors, more than a thousand ordinary English people participated. A documentary about the unique show was filmed by the BBC team.
Michael Sheen in Craing Ferguson's show
For TV series fans, the actor also prepared a surprise: he appeared as Dr. William Masters in the drama "Masters of Sex." Alongside him in the leading roles were Lizzie Caplan and Teddy Sears.
With Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt, Sheen starred in the sci-fi film "Passengers" (Arthur, robot bartender), with Carey Mulligan and Matthias Schoenaerts—in the drama "Far from the Madding Crowd" (William Boldwood). He also participated in the projects "Alice in Wonderland" and "Alice Through the Looking Glass," voicing the White Rabbit.
A scene from the film 'Passengers'
As preacher Malcolm Howe, Michael appeared before viewers in the mystical drama "Apostle." In the summer of 2019, audiences appreciated the brilliant tandem 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's and David's characters—an angel Aziraphale and a demon Crowley—have been living on Earth for a long time, have come to love the world of humans, and even become friends, despite ideological differences. But the birth of Satan's heir threatens the current state of affairs, and now the friends must prevent the Apocalypse, although it is welcome in both the world of demons and in heaven.
David Tennant and Michael Sheen in the series 'Good Omens'
It seemed Sheen had shown himself in every possible role, but when the FOX series "Prodigal Son" was released in 2019, fans of his talent once again became glued to their TV screens. Even the cardigan of the brilliant Manhattan doctor Martin Whitly became a terrifying attribute—the man is accused of at least twenty brutal serial murders. Dr. Whitly is in a psychiatric clinic, and since he's "bored," he starts mind games with his own son Malcolm Bright (Tom Payne), a forensic psychologist with the New York police. Sheen's performance is so convincing that his on-screen "dad jokes" make your hair stand on end. Viewers watched this series with bated breath until the summer of 2021.
Michael Sheen in the series 'Prodigal Son'
In the spring of 2021, the actor tweeted that he, along with his wife and little daughter, had contracted coronavirus. Michael himself had a rather severe case, feeling overwhelmed by the virus for several weeks, and admitted that it was "quite difficult and scary." Anna and their daughter had a much easier time with the virus. After recovering, Sheen thanked everyone who supported him morally and wrote kind words.
Michael Sheen now
In the same year, the second season of the live-screen series "Staged," spawned by the lockdown, was released. Sheen once again starred with his friend David Tennant, both portraying themselves and their quarantine daily life without work.
The actors are friends in real life
Also in 2021, Sheen played the leading role in the Christmas drama "Last Train to Christmas," a non-trivial adaptation (but only partially) of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." His character—a representative of London's 80s bohemia—tries to correct a mistake that has deeply rooted in his past.
Michael Sheen in the film 'Last Train to Christmas'
Michael Sheen's Personal Life
Michael Sheen met actress and model Kate Beckinsale through Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. They performed together in Chekhov's play "The Seagull" at the Royal Theatre. Their workplace romance soon developed into a serious relationship and, although Michael never married his beloved, they lived together for nine years and their love resulted in the birth of 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 formalized his relationship with her mother, often repeating the phrase: "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. A romance sparked between the actress and the film's director, Len Wiseman, and Kate soon married him.
Sheen understood his ex-lover's feelings and kept their communication friendly for the sake of their daughter. The media often published photos of the parents spending time with Lily Mo in children's parks.
The former spouses continued to communicate as friends
After splitting up with Kate, the actor was single for a short time. In 2004, he had a brief romance with actress Anastasia Griffith. Then Michael met ballerina Lorraine Stewart, and their relationship lasted until 2010.
With Lorraine Stewart
The couple broke up without any public explanation, and Sheen was soon seen with Canadian actress Rachel McAdams, whom he met on the set of "Midnight in Paris." Pictures of the happy couple frequently appeared in the press, and fans eagerly awaited news of an engagement, but after three years, Michael and Rachel parted ways.
Michael Sheen and Rachel McAdams
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 her Twitter that they had broken up due to frequent separations and 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. In September the same year, 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 common baby daughter,
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 time, the viewers' attention was focused on the personal relationship between Aziraphale and Crowley, as well as the storyline of the archangel Gabriel. Sheen shared his experience working with actor Jon Hamm, who played Gabriel:
I enjoyed playing scenes where Jon just sits there with that silly smirk on his face, driving Aziraphale crazy. Those were great scenes, and I really liked them. And it was great to see Jon again. I mean, we had such a good time together in the first film, and I know Jon, not just from 'Good Omens,' and it was so great to spend more time together.
Additionally, the actor played 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." The plot centers around Sheen's hometown of Port Talbot, where civil unrest ensues following the death of a teenager in a vat of molten metal at the steel plant and his father's self-immolation as a protest.
Interesting Facts
While studying at drama school, Michael Sheen was the captain of the football team. The actor admitted that these were the most aggressive football matches he had ever played in. Aspiring actors wanted to prove that they were not weaklings, and the games often ended in bloody fights, with injured players being carried off the field unconscious.
In the film "Frost/Nixon," Sheen starred alongside Frank Langella. Both had previously participated in a stage production of Peter Morgan's play about the journalist and the president, so for the film, they simply revisited their stage roles of David Frost and Richard Nixon.
In everyday life, the actor looks so "unstar-like" that once Victoria Beckham called the police to the school attended by her children and Michael's children. She did not recognize Sheen and mistook him for 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 his decision by stating that he had deeply researched the history of Wales and prepared a lecture on the relationship between his historical homeland and England. The sticking point was the title "Prince of Wales," which was hereditary while the country was independent. However, when Wales became part of England, the title was "taken" by the British monarchs. Michael explained that he realized: "...I would be a hypocrite if I held the order while voicing what I was going to say in the lecture about the nature of the relationship between Wales and the British state." He also emphasized that he did not consider his action to be a gesture of disrespect.
