Sheen kicks Blair, Frost habit for soccer sideline
TORONTO — Michael Sheen never felt he was playing second fiddle as British leader Tony Blair or TV interviewer David Frost.
It was simply inevitable that his characters would take a back seat to the huge personalities they were up against: Elizabeth II in “The Queen” and Richard Nixon in “Frost/Nixon.”
Sheen prefers characters who are more of a cipher, the 40-year-old actor said in an interview at September’s Toronto International Film Festival, where his soccer drama “The Damned United” played in advance of its theatrical release Friday.
Elizabeth and Nixon, “these are characters who don’t have as much ability to cover up, so they’re more transparent in some ways. So you kind of know where you are with them as an audience,” Sheen said. “Whereas with the Blair character, the Frost character, it’s harder to know what’s really going on for them. That’s what I find interesting as an actor.”
In “The Damned United,” Sheen plays British coaching legend Brian Clough during his short, disastrous tenure at Leeds United, the championship team he took over from a bitter rival in 1974.
Clough, who died in 2004, was a polarizing figure for British sports fans, always ready to laud his own talents and criticize opponents.
“When he came on the TV, people either hated him or they loved him, and even if they hated him, they still couldn’t help but just laugh and be entertained,” said Sheen, who considered pursuing a soccer career before he took up acting in his midteens. “I always found him quite sort of an unsettling figure when I was a kid, because I think even then, I could sense that there was a real anger in him.”
Born in Wales, Sheen studied at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and went on to acclaimed stage performances, including the title role in a 1999 revival of “Amadeus” and the Frost role in the original production of “Frost/Nixon.”
Sheen made his movie debut in Stephen Frears’ 1996 Jekyll-and-Hyde tale “Mary Reilly,” working with the director again as Blair in the TV movie “The Deal” and “The Queen.” He plays Blair a third time in the upcoming drama “The Special Relationship,” about the prime minister’s bond with President Bill Clinton.
Other screen roles include the werewolf Lucian in the “Underworld” franchise, whose first two installments starred former girlfriend Kate Beckinsale, with whom Sheen has a 10-year-old daughter.
Sheen also plays the White Rabbit in Tim Burton’s upcoming “Alice in Wonderland” and co-stars as vampire leader Aro in “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.”
His initial research for Aro came close to home. Daughter Lily is a huge fan of Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” novels.
“I wanted to find out about the character without having to read the books immediately, but I couldn’t tip my daughter off, because that would get her overexcited,” Sheen said. “I said to her, ‘Oh, Lily, these books you’re reading. Someone was talking about them the other day. Is there a character called Aro in them?’
“She said, ‘Yes, he’s the head of the Volturi. He can tell what people are thinking just by touching them. Are you going to play him?’ I went, ‘No, no, no, no,’” Sheen said, laughing. “It was hilarious. And then of course, once I knew I was going to do it, I still couldn’t bring it up with her until the deal was done, because if I was to say, ‘I’m going to do this’ and then it didn’t happen, it would have been horrendous.”
Related News
Michael Sheen's New Moon role finally intrigues daughterSeptember 22nd, 2009 NEW YORK - Michael Sheen says his daughter has never been excited by his on-screen roles, but his "Twilight: New Moon" character is has intrigued her finally. The 40-year old Welsh actor admits it is the first time his 10-year-old girl, Lily, is eager to watch him play Aro, the leader of an ancient Italian vampire group in the New Moon.
Movie Review: Michael Sheen shines as a cocky soccer coach in the gritty 'Damned United'September 22nd, 2009 Review: Sheen shines in the gritty 'Damned United'LOS ANGELES — You don't have to be a soccer expert, or even know all that much about the sport, to get sucked into the competing personalities and personal dramas of "The Damned United."
Sure, it probably helps in terms of appreciating some of the details and nuances, especially if you're a fan of the British football depicted here. But director Tom Hooper doesn't actually include very much action on the field: "The Damned United" is more about the larger-than-life figures behind the scenes, mainly Brian Clough, the real-life manager of Leeds United for a brief and tumultuous period in 1974.
Charlie Sheen 'wants Obama to reopen 9/11 investigation'September 10th, 2009 LONDON - Actor Charlie Sheen apparently wants US President Barack Obama to reopen the investigation into 9/11. The star has written a letter to him requesting a meeting over his theories about the terrorist attack, it has emerged.
Tony Blair hopping the pond next week for his first appearance on Letterman's showSeptember 2nd, 2009 Britain's Blair hopping the pond for LettermanNEW YORK — Tony Blair is set for his first appearance on David Letterman's "Late Show."
CBS says the former British prime minister will visit the late-night host on Tuesday for his first appearance on the show. He's likely to talk about his current projects, including pushing for peace with Palestinians and seeking a climate change agreement.
No nude scene in Twilight sequel, says director WeizAugust 4th, 2009 MELBOURNE - New Moon director Chris Weitz has dismissed rumours that the Twilight sequel will feature three of its stars in a nude scene. Weiz had to fight the rumors after actor Jamie Campbell Bower, who plays Volturi leader Caius in the sequel, said there was a nude scene in the movie, reports News.com.au.
"Twilight" sequel, "Avatar" dominate Comic Con Thursday, drawing thousandsJuly 24th, 2009 'Twilight' dominates Comic Con, drawing thousandsSAN DIEGO — Most camped out overnight. Some spent two nights outside the San Diego Convention Center.
"Twilight" sequel, "New Moon," draws thousands of fangirls to Comic ConJuly 24th, 2009 "Twilight" sequel draws fangirls by the thousandsSAN DIEGO — Most camped out overnight. Some spent two nights outside the San Diego Convention Center.
Judge blocks US publication of book billed as sequel to classic 'Catcher in the Rye'July 1st, 2009 Judge blocks publication of Salinger spinoff bookNEW YORK — A federal judge has ruled that a Swedish author cannot publish in the United States a book he wrote that was advertised as a sequel to J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher In The Rye."
Judge Deborah Batts issued her ruling Wednesday after hearing arguments in a lawsuit brought by the 90-year-old Salinger against the publishers of "60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye."
The book was scheduled to be published in the United States this summer.
Michael Sheen left devastated after Peter Morgan quits Tony Blair movieJune 26th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Welsh actor Michael Sheen was left devastated when he came to know that his long time friend director Peter Morgan had quit work on his new Tony Blair movie 'The Special Relationship'. Sheen, 40, and Morgan, 46, had shared a close relationship ever since the screenwriter cast the actor in his 2006 play Frost/Nixon, which went onto become Sheen's Oscar-nominated movie.
Michael Sheen may play legendary villain Blofeld in next Bond flickJune 16th, 2009 WASHINGTON - If reports are to be believed, British actor Michael Sheen will play legendary villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the next James Bond movie. The Frost/Nixon star is said to be in the process of signing up for the superspy flick.
Queen, Tony Blair agreed not to watch 'The Queen', says Michael SheenJune 3rd, 2009 LONDON - Michael Sheen has alleged that Queen Elizabeth II and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair agreed not to watch the Stephen Frears' 2006 British drama that centered itself on their relationship after the death of Princess Diana. Sheen played Blair in the 2006 film The Queen which depicted an account of the immediate events following the death of Diana in 1997, 3 months after the politician came to power.
Queen honours Michael SheenJune 3rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Michael Sheen, who portrayed former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the hit film The Queen, met the real British monarch face to face when he was honoured during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. The 40-year-old star was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to drama.
Pattinson's muscled torso in Twilight sequel is for real, says co-starJune 3rd, 2009 LONDON - Kellan Lutz has slammed reports that his New Moon co-star Robert Pattinson's muscled torso for the Twilight sequel was airbrushed, insisting the actor has been working hard on his body. Pattinson had sparked speculations that his muscled appearance was the doing of the film's make-up artists.
Michael Sheen laments over lack of funding in theaters. We agreeMay 20th, 2009 LONDON - Michael Sheen has said that he would never make it big in hollywood if he started his acting career today, as there's a dearth of funding for drama schools nd schemes-his entry door to stardom. The 'Frost/Nixon' actor made the comments while speaking to a group of Rhondda Valley choolchildren who were part of Filmclub, an initiative that gives youngsters access to classic film titles.
Woman finds 'Twilight' sequel script in St. Louis trash, and returns it to studioMay 12th, 2009 Woman finds 'Twilight' sequel script in trashST. LOUIS — A St.
Loading ...