Michael Sheen is a Welsh stage and screen actor. After training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Sheen made his professional debut in 1991, starring opposite Vanessa Redgrave in When She Danced at the Globe Theatre. He worked mainly in theatre throughout the 1990s and made notable stage appearances in Romeo and Juliet (1992), Don't Fool With Love (1993), Peer Gynt (1994), The Seagull (1995), The Homecoming (1997) and Henry V (1997). His performances in Amadeus at the Old Vic and Look Back in Anger at the National Theatre were nominated for Olivier Awards in 1998 and 1999, respectively.
In the 2000s, while continuing to make sporadic stage appearances, Sheen became known primarily as a screen actor. In 2003, he starred in the film Underworld as Lucian, the leader of the Lycans, a role he had once again in 2006's Underworld: Evolution via archive footage. Also in 2003, he was nominated for a third Olivier Award for his performance in Caligula at the Donmar Warehouse and had a breakthrough performance as the British politician Tony Blair in the television film The Deal. He received a BAFTA Award nomination in 2004 for his work in the ITV drama Dirty Filthy Love. In 2006, Sheen starred as the troubled comic actor Kenneth Williams in BBC Four's Fantabulosa! and came to the attention of an international audience when he reprised his role as Blair in The Queen. Both performances were BAFTA Award-nominated. Sheen received a fourth Olivier Award nomination in 2006 for portraying the broadcaster David Frost in Frost/Nixon at the Donmar Warehouse and he later revisited the role of Frost in the 2008 film adaptation of the play. In 2009, Sheen appeared in two fantasy films, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans and The Twilight Saga: New Moon, and starred as the outspoken football manager Brian Clough in The Damned United.
In the 2010s, Sheen has divided his time between film, television and theatre work. In 2010, he made a four-episode guest appearance in the NBC comedy 30 Rock and was nominated for an Emmy Award for his portrayal of Blair in the HBO film The Special Relationship. He appeared in the science-fiction film Tron: Legacy (2010) and Woody Allen's romantic comedy Midnight in Paris (2011). At Easter 2011, Sheen directed and starred in National Theatre Wales's The Passion, a 72-hour secular passion play staged in his hometown of Port Talbot. From October 2011 until January 2012, Sheen played the title role in Hamlet at the Young Vic.
Sheen has also appeared in many radio productions, particularly in the early years of his career. Notable radio play appearances include Strangers on a Train (1994) opposite Bill Nighy, The Importance of Being Earnest (1995) opposite Judi Dench, Romeo and Juliet (1997) opposite Kate Beckinsale, Troy (1998) opposite Paul Scofield and The Pretenders (2004) opposite, again, Paul Scofield. He has also narrated five novels and presented a series of documentaries for BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4.
Theatre
Year Title Role Director Theatre Notes 1991 When She Danced Alexandros Eliopolos Robert Allan Ackerman Globe Theatre, London Neon Gravy James Macdonald Royal National Theatre, London Workshop 1992 Romeo and Juliet Romeo Greg Hersov Royal Exchange, Manchester and Tour Nominated – M.E.N. Theatre Award for Best Actor A View from the Bridge Longshoreman 1993 The Blind Men Lamprido Declan Donnellan Donmar Warehouse, London and Tour Don't Fool With Love Perdican Nominated – Ian Charleson Award Moonlight Fred David Leveaux Almeida Theatre, London Ion Ion Nicholas Wright Royal National Theatre, London Workshop Forever Yours, Marie-Lou Tour in Swansea, Cardiff & London 1994 Peer Gynt Peer Gynt Yukio Ninagawa Barbican Theatre, London and Tour in Oslo and Tokyo Le Livre de Spencer Spencer Gaveston Lluís Pasqual Odéon-Théâtre de l'Europe, Paris Charley’s Aunt Lord Fancourt Babberley Emil Wolk Royal Exchange, Manchester 1995 Look Back in Anger Jimmy Porter Greg Hersov The Seagull KonstantinRobert Sturua Theatre Royal, Bath and Tour The Dresser Norman directed by Sheen Drum Theatre, Plymouth 1996 The Ends of the Earth Daniel Andrei Şerban Royal National Theatre, London 1997 The Homecoming Lenny Roger Michell Badfinger directed by Sheen Donmar Warehouse, London Gas Station Angel Duke of York's Theatre, London Rehearsed reading Henry V Henry V Ron Daniels Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford Upon Avon Nominated – Ian Charleson Award 1998–1999 Amadeus Mozart Peter Hall Old Vic, London; Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles; Music Box Theatre, Broadway Nominated – Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting PerformanceNominated – Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor 1999 Look Back in Anger Jimmy Porter Greg Hersov Royal National Theatre, London Nominated – Laurence Olivier Award for Best ActorNominated – Evening Standard Award for Best Actor 2000 Smithereens Second Stage Theatre, New York Workshop 2003 Caligula Caligula Michael Grandage Donmar Warehouse, London Evening Standard Award for Best ActorCritics' Circle Theatre Award for Best ActorNominated – Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor 2005 The UN Inspector Martin Gammon David Farr Royal National Theatre, London 24 Hour Play Old Vic, London 2006–2007 Frost/Nixon David Frost Michael Grandage Donmar Warehouse, London & Gielgud Theatre, London; Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Broadway Nominated – Drama League Award for Distinguished PerformanceNominated – Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor 2009 Betrayal Robert Ian Rickson Royal National Theatre, London Only two scenes performed as part of a Harold Pinter tribute evening 2011 The Passion The Teacher directed by Sheen National Theatre Wales, Port Talbot Theatre Award UK for Best Director 2011–2012 Hamlet Hamlet Ian Rickson Young Vic, London 2020Faith HealerFrancis HardyMatthew WarchusOld Vic, LondonLivestreamed socially distanced performance2021Under Milk WoodOwain JenkinsLyndsey TurnerRoyal National Theatre, London2022 Amadeus Salieri Craig Ilott Sydney Opera House, Sydney BroadwayWorld Australia - Sydney Awards for Best Performer in a Play2024NyeAneurin BevanRufus NorrisRoyal National Theatre, London; Wales Millennium Centre, CardiffWhite Rabbit Red RabbitPerformerNassim Soleimanpour@sohoplace, London4 October performance2025Inside No. 9 Stage/FrightGuest starSimon EvansWyndham's Theatre, LondonCameo - 8 March (evening) performanceNyeAneurin BevanRufus NorrisRoyal National Theatre, London; Wales Millennium Centre, CardiffRevival of 2024 production2026Our TownStage ManagerFrancesca GoodridgeSwansea Grand Theatre; Venue Cymru, Llandudno; Theatr Clwyd, Mold; Rose Theatre, Kingston upon ThamesWelsh National Theatre productionOwain & HenryOwain Glyndŵrco-directed by Sheen and Steffan DonnellyWales Millennium Centre, CardiffWelsh National Theatre production2027AmadeusSalieriJeremy HerrinNew Theatre, Cardiff; Noël Coward Theatre, LondonWelsh National Theatre production
Film Year Film Role Notes 1995 Othello Lodovico 1996 Mary Reilly Bradshaw 1997 Wilde Robbie Ross 2002 Heartlands Colin The Four Feathers William Trench 2003 Bright Young Things Miles Maitland Underworld Lucian Timeline Lord Oliver de Vannes The Deal Tony Blair 2004 Laws of Attraction Thorne Jamison The Banker The Banker Short film; Also executive producerBAFTA Award for Best Short Film 2005 Kingdom of Heaven Priest The Open Doors Framton Nuttel Short film; Also executive producer The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse Jeremy Dyson 2006 Dead Long Enough Harry Jones Underworld: Evolution Lucian Archive footage The Queen Tony Blair Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting ActorUtah Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActorLos Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActorToronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActorInternational Cinephile Society Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting RoleNominated – Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Blood Diamond Rupert Simmons 2007 Music Within Art Honeyman Nominated – St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Airlock Or How To Say Goodbye In Space Adam Banton Short film 2008 Frost/Nixon David Frost Film nominated for five Academy AwardsEvening Standard British Film Award for Best ActorNominated – London Film Critics Circle Award for British Actor of the YearNominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 2009 Underworld: Rise of the Lycans Lucian The Damned United Brian Clough Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama You're the Boss Presenter Documentary My Last Five Girlfriends Burnham The Twilight Saga: New Moon Aro Volturi 2010 Unthinkable Yusuf / Steven Arthur Alice in Wonderland Nivens McTwisp the White Rabbit (voice) Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue Dr. Griffiths (voice) Tron: Legacy Castor / Zuse The Special Relationship Tony Blair Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor – Miniseries or a Movie 2011 Midnight in Paris Paul Bates Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureNominated – Gold Derby Film Award for Ensemble Cast (shared with the entire cast) Beautiful Boy Bill Carroll Few Options Florist The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 Aro Volturi Resistance Tommy Atkins 2012 The Gospel of Us The Teacher Welsh BAFTA Award for Best Actor Jesus Henry Christ Slavkin O'Hara The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 Aro Volturi Empire Cinemas Alternative Movie Awards for Best Film Villain 2013 Admission Mark 2014 The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box Captain Will Charity Kill the Messenger Fred Weil 2015 Far from the Madding Crowd William Boldwood BarbadosDavidShort film 2016 Alice Through the Looking Glass Nivens McTwisp the White Rabbit (voice) Nocturnal Animals Carlos Norman Philip Cohen Passengers Arthur You Can Never Really Know Someone Henry Short film 2017 Home Again Austen Brad's Status Craig Fisher 2018 Apostle Malcolm Howe Nominated – Welsh BAFTA Award for Best ActorNominated – Fright Meter Award for Best Supporting Actor Slaughterhouse Rulez "The Bat" 2019 How to Build a Girl Sigmund Freud 2020 Dolittle Blair Müdfly 2021 Last Train to Christmas Tony Towers 2023Written in the Stars FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: A Historic World CupNarrator (voice)FIFA World Cup official documentaryPouring Water on Troubled OilDylan Thomas (voice)Poetic archival documentary2026 You Told Us To Talk About the Weather Narrator (voice) Short film Out There Shifty Gruff Fortitude Winston Churchill Post-production TBA The Last Disturbance of Madeline Hynde Post-production
Television Year Title Role Network Notes 1993 Gallowglass Joe BBC2 Maigret Philippe ITV Episode: "Maigret and the Night Club Dancer" In Suspicious CircumstancesWilliam Wright Episode: "Candle in the Window" Sean's Show James Channel 4 Series 2, episode 6 1997 The Grand Thomas Jordon ITV Series 1, episode 4 1998 Lost in France Owen BBC2 Animated Epics: Beowulf Wiglaf (voice) HBO, BBC, S4CBright Smoke: Michael Sheen ProfileHimselfBBCDocumentary