Michael Sheen
Birthday: 5 February 1969, Newport, Gwent, Wales, UK
Birth Name: Michael Christopher Sheen
Height: 178 cm
Even though he had burned up the London stage for nearly a decade--and appeared in several films--Michael Sheen was not really "discovered" by American audiences until his critically-acclaim ...Show More
My chief gifts are - naturally good at all sports with a raw talent for pretty much everything, whic Show more
My chief gifts are - naturally good at all sports with a raw talent for pretty much everything, which if nurtured could develop into improper talent. Hide
I can be a lazy dresser.
I can be a lazy dresser.
Getting older is a struggle. I always feel that just under the surface of acceptance and enjoyment o Show more
Getting older is a struggle. I always feel that just under the surface of acceptance and enjoyment of the aging process is a terrible hysteria just waiting to burst out. Hide
I'm happy in my life.
I'm happy in my life.
I would never use prosthetics. I don't like sticking things on. I don't really like wearing wigs, ei Show more
I would never use prosthetics. I don't like sticking things on. I don't really like wearing wigs, either. Hide
I'm a big fan of vampire movies generally and that sort of tradition of characters.
I'm a big fan of vampire movies generally and that sort of tradition of characters.
I think I'm becoming more relaxed in front of a camera. I suppose I'll always feel slightly more at Show more
I think I'm becoming more relaxed in front of a camera. I suppose I'll always feel slightly more at home on stage. It's more of an actor's medium. You are your own editor, nobody else is choosing what is being seen of you. Hide
I've always loved animation and animated films.
I've always loved animation and animated films.
I live a very Kenneth Williams-like existence.
I live a very Kenneth Williams-like existence.
I've never met anyone normal.
I've never met anyone normal.
I was obsessed with football when I was growing up.
I was obsessed with football when I was growing up.
I don't do the whole L.A. nightlife thing.
I don't do the whole L.A. nightlife thing.
I suppose I'm something of an eccentric dresser.
I suppose I'm something of an eccentric dresser.
I've always found it hard to say sorry.
I've always found it hard to say sorry.
[on playing "Castor" in Tron (2010)] I wanted him to be like a sort of popular-culture jukebox progr Show more
[on playing "Castor" in Tron (2010)] I wanted him to be like a sort of popular-culture jukebox program and, then underneath it all, there's something completely psychotic going on. Hide
I try not to pay any attention to clothes fascism and I'd rather be thought of as someone who has hi Show more
I try not to pay any attention to clothes fascism and I'd rather be thought of as someone who has his own sense of style. Hide
My rule of thumb is that I want to do things I'd like to go and see myself.
My rule of thumb is that I want to do things I'd like to go and see myself.
For a culture that has such a problem with death, we seem to deal with it in a quite bizarre way. We Show more
For a culture that has such a problem with death, we seem to deal with it in a quite bizarre way. We see people shot, killed and blown up, and we find it funny and sexy and all those things. But, the reality of it is that every day people die, and people are really sad and they grieve and they go through a really difficult process with it. Hide
The secret to acting is don't act. Be you, with add-ons.
The secret to acting is don't act. Be you, with add-ons.
I'm definitely passionate and obsessed, and maybe that is a result of where I grew up. There was a r Show more
I'm definitely passionate and obsessed, and maybe that is a result of where I grew up. There was a real anger to south Wales in the 1970s and '80s when industries were dismantled and people's livelihoods were being messed up. There was a lot of unemployment and depression. I look at actors like Burton and Hopkins, and what they have in common is a dark anger that comes out in their acting. They're at their best when they're letting all that anger go. I can also see that in me. Hide
I think the story of 'Alice in Wonderland' in a way is a reminder that life is frightening, it can s Show more
I think the story of 'Alice in Wonderland' in a way is a reminder that life is frightening, it can shift on you at any moment. Hide
On the one hand Twitter gives you the opportunity to engage with people, which is great, but on the Show more
On the one hand Twitter gives you the opportunity to engage with people, which is great, but on the other there are people who feel they can say whatever they want, put poison out there, really, without fear of any repercussions. Hide
If someone has an ability to impress an audience there's a tendency to be tempted into doing just th Show more
If someone has an ability to impress an audience there's a tendency to be tempted into doing just that. Hide
Hopefully, any character I play has an anchor in reality.
Hopefully, any character I play has an anchor in reality.
I think the best acting is when you allow yourself to be kind of vulnerable in the moment.
I think the best acting is when you allow yourself to be kind of vulnerable in the moment.
A parent can seem very kind and gentle, but as any child knows, as soon as that parent gets stressed Show more
A parent can seem very kind and gentle, but as any child knows, as soon as that parent gets stressed, they can suddenly turn and get a bit angry. Hide
The first thing, when I read the script, is that I need to care about what happens and feel compelle Show more
The first thing, when I read the script, is that I need to care about what happens and feel compelled by the story and engaged by the characters. It needs to resonate with me, even if what the characters are going through is not something that I have experienced in my life. I have to feel like it has some sort of meaning to me. Hide
On ex Kate Beckinsale: Our relationship now is probably better than it ever was. And it helps that s Show more
On ex Kate Beckinsale: Our relationship now is probably better than it ever was. And it helps that she actually likes Sarah (Sarah Silverman) more than she likes me. Hide
I've always had an eye for what looks good on a man. But I've not always found it easy to find cloth Show more
I've always had an eye for what looks good on a man. But I've not always found it easy to find clothes that look good on me. Hide
I find increasingly that the more extreme are the things going on in your life, the more cultural re Show more
I find increasingly that the more extreme are the things going on in your life, the more cultural reference points fail you. More mythical reference points actually help, and you realize that's what myths are for. It's for human beings to process their experience in extremis. Hide
I suppose I've got a reputation for playing quite extreme characters and making them quite believabl Show more
I suppose I've got a reputation for playing quite extreme characters and making them quite believable. Hide
I'm not a Christian.
I'm not a Christian.
We see death constantly on film.
We see death constantly on film.
There's a great deal to be said about talent and inspiration but hard work is the most important in Show more
There's a great deal to be said about talent and inspiration but hard work is the most important in terms of being able to do anything well. Hide
I'm a huge fan of science fiction and fantasy - not so much horror because I get a bit scared.
I'm a huge fan of science fiction and fantasy - not so much horror because I get a bit scared.
Everyone deserves compassion.
Everyone deserves compassion.
Acting itself is quite scary. Some people say that actors are show-offs, very egotistical and all th Show more
Acting itself is quite scary. Some people say that actors are show-offs, very egotistical and all that kind of stuff, but it is quite scary. Hide
Americans are much more open than people in Britain.
Americans are much more open than people in Britain.
I think being a parent is the most challenging thing you do. That's why we're here. It's at the hear Show more
I think being a parent is the most challenging thing you do. That's why we're here. It's at the heart of what it is to be a human being. It's the ultimate experience because it questions everything about who you are. But it's difficult. Hide
I perceive and relate to the world through where I grew up; that's part of me. It's what I judge eve Show more
I perceive and relate to the world through where I grew up; that's part of me. It's what I judge everything else against. Hide
While I enjoy spending time in L.A., Britain is my home.
While I enjoy spending time in L.A., Britain is my home.
I'm not a Tony Blair impersonator.
I'm not a Tony Blair impersonator.
My taste in watching things runs from dramas and low-budget films to high-end fantasy/science fictio Show more
My taste in watching things runs from dramas and low-budget films to high-end fantasy/science fiction. Hide
I think it's quite tough for people like Tom Cruise where you can never really get away from being T Show more
I think it's quite tough for people like Tom Cruise where you can never really get away from being Tom Cruise in something. You're so familiar to people and people know so much about your life. Hide
In some ways any film that you do has an artificiality about it. Even when you're doing the most kit Show more
In some ways any film that you do has an artificiality about it. Even when you're doing the most kitchen-sinky, gritty, realistic scene you've still got 50 people standing around watching you with cameras and lights and things. Hide
By the time you are 30 you are still trying to make your 15-year-old self happy but you are a differ Show more
By the time you are 30 you are still trying to make your 15-year-old self happy but you are a different person. You need to be brave and let go of that. Hide
For me, what makes life enjoyable is having a shared culture and shared references.
For me, what makes life enjoyable is having a shared culture and shared references.
I'd love to go back to Greek times and see the birth of theater and performing, in that time. It wou Show more
I'd love to go back to Greek times and see the birth of theater and performing, in that time. It would be so extraordinary to see the need that theater came out of, in the first place. I think we could probably all learn a bit from that. Hide
As a general thing, I've always been drawn to characters who appear to be one thing on the surface, Show more
As a general thing, I've always been drawn to characters who appear to be one thing on the surface, but are actually something else underneath. Hide
I cry when I feel moved by incredible generosity or a connection to someone. We spend so much of our Show more
I cry when I feel moved by incredible generosity or a connection to someone. We spend so much of our lives being separated. It's the relief of connection that produces the tears. Hide
It's weird that I've ended up playing so many real live people, because I was never any good at impe Show more
It's weird that I've ended up playing so many real live people, because I was never any good at impersonations at school. Hide
When I'm in America, I like to be near the sea, listen to music, watch films, read and write.
When I'm in America, I like to be near the sea, listen to music, watch films, read and write.
You know, we're each the hero of our own story and we perceive what's going on around us, and especi Show more
You know, we're each the hero of our own story and we perceive what's going on around us, and especially in a relationship, from the kind of viewpoint of, 'Well, this is my story, and I'm the hero of that, and I justify what I do around it.' Hide
It's interesting that in searching for monsters to play you often end up playing leaders.
It's interesting that in searching for monsters to play you often end up playing leaders.
When you look at all the miracles attributed to Jesus, they're all about change.
When you look at all the miracles attributed to Jesus, they're all about change.
Having played a lot of characters that are dangerously close to caricature, there's something I've a Show more
Having played a lot of characters that are dangerously close to caricature, there's something I've always found, and that is: everything you do has to be connected to the source of what the character really is. Hide
There are times in my career where I can see it would be helped by having a bit more of a profile, b Show more
There are times in my career where I can see it would be helped by having a bit more of a profile, but it's not like I refuse to do interviews, no, not at all. Hide
My tragedy is that all I want is a dog, and yet I have been cursed with cats all my life.
My tragedy is that all I want is a dog, and yet I have been cursed with cats all my life.
I would like to be taller, thinner and more rakish looking.
I would like to be taller, thinner and more rakish looking.
I enjoy doing things that involve research because it's part of what I enjoy about acting.
I enjoy doing things that involve research because it's part of what I enjoy about acting.
I am very impatient.
I am very impatient.
Although my family - parents and sister - all work in the personnel management business, their real Show more
Although my family - parents and sister - all work in the personnel management business, their real passion is performing, amateur operatic societies and so on. Hide
Part of the fun of life is interacting with people and not knowing what the truth is inside. Letting Show more
Part of the fun of life is interacting with people and not knowing what the truth is inside. Letting them reveal that to you is what binds you to people. Hide
If you can define what God is, I can tell you whether I believe in it.
If you can define what God is, I can tell you whether I believe in it.
A lot of children are interested in fairies, especially young girls, and Tinker Bell is the ueber-fa Show more
A lot of children are interested in fairies, especially young girls, and Tinker Bell is the ueber-fairy. She's the pin-up girl of fairies. She's the ultimate fairy, but she's also got a mischievous spirit and she's very strong-willed. I think a lot of youngsters recognize themselves in Tinker Bell. Hide
I don't want to do something that I've done before; I can't see the point of it.
I don't want to do something that I've done before; I can't see the point of it.
Normal people - i.e., people who aren't actors - are the most bizarre people you can ever come acros Show more
Normal people - i.e., people who aren't actors - are the most bizarre people you can ever come across. I'll talk to someone and come away thinking, 'They are clinically insane.' Hide
I do think there's a kind of a dark energy in Port Talbot. It's dominated by the steelworks, where t Show more
I do think there's a kind of a dark energy in Port Talbot. It's dominated by the steelworks, where there's this fire that's pumping out energy every day, and I think that is a good symbol for a kind of restless, fiery energy. Hide
Sometimes you see things in a script, and it doesn't necessarily mean the director sees the same thi Show more
Sometimes you see things in a script, and it doesn't necessarily mean the director sees the same things. And if you think you're going to be making a different film, then that's not gonna work. Hide
I think a good story's a good story and a good character's a good character.
I think a good story's a good story and a good character's a good character.
'Hamlet' is one of the most dangerous things ever set down on paper. All the big, unknowable questio Show more
'Hamlet' is one of the most dangerous things ever set down on paper. All the big, unknowable questions like what it is to be a human being; the difference between sanity and insanity; the meaning of life and death; what's real and not real. All these subjects can literally drive you mad. Hide
My own daughter is a big fan of the 'Twilight' stories, the books.
My own daughter is a big fan of the 'Twilight' stories, the books.
I think when you work on a Woody Allen film the actors become a real company, probably more than on Show more
I think when you work on a Woody Allen film the actors become a real company, probably more than on any other film. Hide
I'd love to go back to Europe in the '20s and '30s, for the beginning of the Psychoanalytic Movement Show more
I'd love to go back to Europe in the '20s and '30s, for the beginning of the Psychoanalytic Movement, and Freud and Jung, and all that was going on with discoveries in quantum physics. The whole nature of reality was changing and being challenged. Hide
I have a daughter, and fairies meant a lot to her growing up.
I have a daughter, and fairies meant a lot to her growing up.
I'm always aware that there are, broadly speaking, two different ways to act: there is acting, and t Show more
I'm always aware that there are, broadly speaking, two different ways to act: there is acting, and then there's being, and I'm always more interested in that. Hide
When I was at drama school, I wanted to change the world, and thought I had some great wisdom to imp Show more
When I was at drama school, I wanted to change the world, and thought I had some great wisdom to impart to people about humanity. Now that I'm older, I know enough to realize that I know nothing at all. Hide
I think parenthood is a wonderful balancing act. On the one hand, you want to spend as much time wit Show more
I think parenthood is a wonderful balancing act. On the one hand, you want to spend as much time with your children as possible. On the other hand, you want to set an example for them to see that you're fulfilled in your life and in your work. Hide
Stories have always been the things that entertain me and make me feel happy and sad and move me and Show more
Stories have always been the things that entertain me and make me feel happy and sad and move me and give me the experience of being able to live many lives in one lifetime. It's the best thing about being alive. Hide
I don't find the life in Hollywood all that meaningful or inspiring.
I don't find the life in Hollywood all that meaningful or inspiring.
I am prone to get carried away thinking about creative projects.
I am prone to get carried away thinking about creative projects.
I always say if I'm not good at something it's just because I've not had time to focus on it... it's Show more
I always say if I'm not good at something it's just because I've not had time to focus on it... it's just uncrafted, like a slab of rock that contains the statue of David within it. Hide
My job takes me away from my daughter Lily a lot, so when I am with her the time is precious. When I Show more
My job takes me away from my daughter Lily a lot, so when I am with her the time is precious. When I'm filming I try to speak to her every day and let her know that I'm thinking of her and hopefully stay a presence in her life. I want Lily to have a parent who is enjoying and is passionate about their work but at the same time I don't want it to be something that takes me away from her too much. Hide
My dad is a Jack Nicholson lookalike and a frustrated performer, my mother's into reading and poetry Show more
My dad is a Jack Nicholson lookalike and a frustrated performer, my mother's into reading and poetry. I suppose the thing I owe them most is my confidence. Hide
I love watching Jeff Bridges act. He's brilliant.
I love watching Jeff Bridges act. He's brilliant.
A lot of the times when I've auditioned for parts in America, the answer is, 'Sorry, we need a bigge Show more
A lot of the times when I've auditioned for parts in America, the answer is, 'Sorry, we need a bigger name.' Hide
I have a terrible temper. I have absolutely no problem with getting shouty or a bit physical. It's n Show more
I have a terrible temper. I have absolutely no problem with getting shouty or a bit physical. It's not something I'm pleased about and it doesn't happen very often, but it's very much there. Hide
Michael Sheen's FILMOGRAPHY
as Actor (292)
Michael Sheen'S roles
