When people around the world think of Wales, Michael Sheen always seems to crop up. The 53-year-old actor, who is currently starring in Channel 4's Vardy v Rooney: A Courtroom Drama as celebrity barrister David Sherborne, has slowly but surely earned himself 'household name' status. From returning an OBE from The Queen to his rousing and passionate speeches, Sheen cares deeply about his country. But how did the man become a legend?
Born in Newport and brought up in Port Talbot Sheen came from a theatrical family. His father, Meyrick, worked part-time as a professional Jack Nicholson lookalike and mother, Irene, would regularly involve herself in local am-dram productions and theatre performances. The actor's passion for his trade can also be attributed to the area he was brought up not to mention there might be something in the water as the area produced our finest actors, Anthony Hopkins and Richard Burton, too.
This is something that Academy Award-winning Director Sam Mendes once picked up on, deeming Sheen one of the best actors of his generation. He said: "I'm serious. He's Welsh in the tradition of Anthony Hopkins and Richard Burton: fiery, mercurial, unpredictable." Sheen would hone his craft during his teenage years where he, like his parents, attended the West Glamorgan Youth Theatre before eventually training as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.
