Actor Michael Sheen is no stranger to the limelight, both professionally and personally.
But it's not just his kiss-and-tell romantic liaisons with famous celebrities that keep tongues wagging. The 55-year old star has dazzled in box office smashes like Twilight and Underworld as well as launching a new institution, Welsh National Theatre. He has also starred in movies such as Frost/Nixon and The Queen.
Kicking off the new year, Sheen will grace the stage of BBC One's Michael McIntyre's Big Show for a dose of fun as he entrusts his phone to the charismatic host. There's more to know about Sheen, including his life away from the spotlight...
Image:
FilmMagic)Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images)Love life
In the sea of Hollywood glam, Sheen has navigated his love life with illustrious companions, reports Wales Online. He dated actress Kate Beckinsale in 1995 when they began during a touring production of The Seagull. The couple were together for eight years and share a daughter, Lily Mo Sheen, who was born in 1999. They split in 2003.
In 2010, Sheen met Canadian actress Rachel McAdams while working on the film Midnight in Paris. The two dated for three years before their split. A year later, he was in a relationship with American comedian Sarah Silverman. The couple eventually split in 2017, reportedly due to the challenges of long-distance.
Michael has since found love with actress Anna Lundberg and they have been together publicly since May of 2019. Things quickly got serious from there, although there hasn't been a marriage proposal yet. Their daughter Lyra was also born in September 2019.
Shunning Hollywood
Image:
Daily Mirror)Recent years have seen Sheen take a sharp turn in his career, boldly adopting a "not-for-profit" ethos towards his craft. His heart set on meaningful acts over mainstream hits, Sheen shared with the Big Issue why he waved goodbye to Tinseltown and championed causes closer to home.
He said: "There was something quite liberating about going, alright, I'll put large amounts of money into this or that, because I'll be able to earn it back again. I've essentially turned myself into a social enterprise, a not-for-profit actor."
In 2019, a pivotal moment occurred when he dipped into his own pocket to ensure the Homeless World Cup event could take place in Cardiff. He said: "There was something quite liberating about going, alright, I'll put large amounts of money into this or that, because I'll be able to earn it back again.I've essentially turned myself into a social enterprise, a not-for-profit actor".
The actor's return to Wales has seen him deeply involved in various local projects, including contributing funds towards the new National Theatre for Wales, set to debut its first production in 2026. The aim is to spotlight narratives that echo the heritage and voices of Wales.
Politics
On politics, Michael recently confessed he has pondered entering the political arena, but expressed doubts over whether he could "toe some sort of party line". Despite being known to voice his views on subjects such as Welsh politics or independence, he insists he doesn't want to feel constrained.
In a chat with Nation. Cymru, Michael revealed: "It's something that I have thought about for many years now. Ultimately, I come back to the same thing, which is that I feel like I don't want someone else to tell me, 'Oh, no, you can't vote for that', it's that I don't want to be beholden to other people.
"I've got a freedom and a platform for what I believe in, and I don't necessarily have to edit or censor that to toe some sort of party line for now. Now, I can see why that's the case in politics and see why you need to be able to do that, but I feel like I've got more license and more ability to create the change I want to see by being independent. So whilst that remains, then I wouldn't want to get involved. But you know that can always change."
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