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'Michael Sheen' (born 5 February 1969) is an award-winning Welsh actor, known for his work on stage and film, best known for his portrayal of Tony Blair in the Stephen Frears 2006 British film ''The Queen''.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Career

Personal life

Filmography

References

External links

Biography

Early life

Sheen was born in Newport, Wales to Irene and Meyrick Sheen, both of whom worked in personnel management. His father is also a part-time professional Jack Nicholson look-alike.^[1][2] Sheen was brought up in Port Talbot and joined the National Youth Theatre of Wales at sixteen, eventually training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Career

Sheen soon established himself as one of the most promising talents on the theatrical scene, notably being cast as Mozart in Peter Shaffers play ''Amadeus'', which was staged at the Old Vic theatre and directed by Sir Peter Hall. His screen appearances include the BBC drama serial, ''Gallowglass'' (based on the novel by Ruth Rendell), and the films ''Wilde'' (1997) (in which he played Robert Ross) and ''Mary Reilly''. However, he remains primarily a stage actor, having starred in high-profile productions of ''Henry V'', ''Peer Gynt'', ''The Dresser'', ''Caligula'' and ''Look Back in Anger'', among others.
In 2003, he appeared with Kate Beckinsale in ''Underworld'' and reprised his role in the film's sequel '' in 2006, by playing as a Lycan (Werewolf)called Lucian. Sheen has also appeared with Beckinsale in the season seven premiere of ''Punk'd''. He played Tony Blair in the Channel 4 drama ''The Deal'' and the film ''The Queen'', as well as Kenneth Williams in ''Fantabulosa!'' on BBC Four and H G Wells in ''H G Wells: War with the World'' on BBC Two.
At the 2005 British Academy Television Awards, Sheen was nominated for Best Actor for his performance in the TV drama, ''Dirty Filthy Love'', in which he played a man with obsessive-compulsive disorder. In 2007, he received two BAFTA nomination, this time for Best Supporting Actor in a Film, for his performance in ''The Queen'', and for Best Television Actor, for his role in ''Fantabulosa''; once again, he was unsuccessful in both cases. In 2006, he played the role of Emperor Nero in the BBC's ''. Later that year, he played David Frost in the much-acclaimed Donmar Warehouse production of Peter Morgan's Frost/Nixon, which later transferred to the Gielgud Theatre before heading to Broadway. He reprised the role in the Broadway production in 2007.
He will soon team up with Miranda Richardson to take the role of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas in a biopic of his marriage to ''Caitlin''. In 2007, he read Paul Torday's novel ''Salmon Fishing in the Yemen'' on BBC Radio 4's Book at Bedtime. In February, ''The Sun'' reported that Sheen was in the running to play The Master in the BBC science fiction series, ''Doctor Who''.^[3] This may stem from a confused eyewitness who saw ''Doctor Who'' producer Julie Gardner speaking with Sheen after a West End performance of ''Frost/Nixon''; Gardner told ''Doctor Who Magazine'' that she was at school with Sheen, and was not discussing ''Doctor Who'' with him.^[4]
In 2007, Sheen was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.^[5]
Sheen is expected to play Brian Clough in Stephen Frears' forthcoming adaptation of David Peace's novel The Damned Utd, based on Clough's 44-day spell in charge of Leeds United.

Personal life

Sheen and former longtime girlfriend, English actress Kate Beckinsale, have a daughter together; Lily Rose Sheen was born 31 January, 1999. After living for a time in the United States with Beckinsale, he returned to the United Kingdom when their relationship ended.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1993	Gallowglass	Joe	Made-for-television
1995	Othello	Lodovico
1996	''Mary Reilly''	Bradshaw
1997	''Wilde''	Robbie Ross
1998	Lost in France	Owen	Made-for-television
2002	''Heartlands''	Colin
2002	''The Four Feathers''	Trench
2003	''Bright Young Things''	Miles
2003	''Underworld''	Lucian
2003	The Deal	Tony Blair	Made-for-television
2003	''Timeline''	Lord Oliver
2004	''Laws of Attraction''	Thorne Jamison
2004	Dirty Filthy Love	Mark Furness	Made-for-television Nominated Best Actor by ''BAFTA''
2004	The Banker	The Banker
2005	Dead Long Enough	Harry Jones
2005	''Kingdom of Heaven''	Priest
2005	''The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse''	Jeremy Dyson
2006	''	Lucian
2006	Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa!	Kenneth Williams	Made-for-television
2006	''The Queen''	Tony Blair	Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role by ''BAFTA''
2006	Ancient Rome /The Battle for Rome	Nero	6 part television series
2006	''	HG Wells	Made-for-television
2006	''Blood Diamond''	Simmons
2007	Music Within	Art Honeyman	Completed
2008	''Caitlin''	Dylan Thomas	In production
2008	''Frost/Nixon	David Frost	Production due to start in August 2007

References

1. http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/theatre/features/article1211648.ece
2. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/6478883.stm
3. Sexy Elize to sex-up Doctor
4. With a Little Help From My Friends, Cook, Benjamin, , , Doctor Who Magazine,
5. http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2007/07.06.18.html

External links

★

★ Michael Sheen website

★ 2006 Interview with Michael Sheen on Theatre.com

★ Interview with Michael on his role in the Queen on WHO.com

★ BBC News article supporting Treorcy Burberry workers campaign

★ Q&A: Michael Sheen at Broadway.com