Actor Sheen gets own tribute
May 26, 2007
by Karen Price, Western Mail (icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/)
HAILED as one of the best British actors of his generation, Michael Sheen has now hit another milestone by featuring in a South Bank Show special.
The Olivier-nominated star will follow in the footsteps of the likes of Damien Hirst and Bryn Terfel in having a show dedicated to him next month.
In the one-off programme, Sheen, from Port Talbot, reveals how he was “shapeless” as a teenager, and that he just followed the crowd until he discovered acting.
He also says drama helped him develop his personality.
Currently playing David Frost in the Broadway production of Frost Nixon, he recently returned to his old classroom at Glanafan Comprehensive School where a signed film poster of him now graces the wall.
His visit was captured by TV cameras for the South Bank Show special.
The TV show concentrates on his roles as three “real” people – Prime Minister Tony Blair, broadcaster David Frost and comic legend Kenneth Williams.
Walking into the school hall where he used to act as a teenager, Sheen, 38, says, “When I was here I used to feel quite shapeless. I didn’t have particularly strong feelings about liking school or not liking school. Whoever I was with at the time I would adapt to [be like] them. I had no strong stand of my own.”
But Sheen, who admits he was “obsessed” with playing football before he caught the drama bug, says when he started taking part in school plays, his personality developed.
“Teachers started treating me with a bit of respect,” he added.
Sheen honed his acting skills at the National Youth Theatre of Wales and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before starting on the road to his impressive career, which includes stage roles in Amadeus and Look Back In Anger.
His TV credits include Dirty Filthy Love and Fantabulosa! and films include Underworld and The Queen, in which he played Blair.
The actor first played the outgoing Prime Minister in the 2003 TV drama The Deal.
He admits that playing Blair has been one of the greatest challenges of his career.
“If I was watching someone play a real person I would be disappointed if they did not give me a bit of them,” he says.
“With someone like Blair, not only are you dealing with the fact that he is familiar, you have to deal with the fact that people have very strong opinions about this man.
“Of all the real life characters I’ve played, Blair was more of an interpretation of the man – because of the nature of his job there’s a limit on how close you can get to him.
“You have to take a lot of what you see, hear and imagine and create a character out of that. I hope it bears a resemblance to the real man.”
The TV programme features Sheen working with voice coach Penny Dyer as he prepares to play Frost in Frost Nixon, which has now been transferred from London to Broadway.
In order to get into character, Sheen watches as much TV or film footage as possible and listens to recordings.
But he says he doesn’t set out to copy them. Instead he wants to be “soaked up” into their lives.
Frost has already watched Sheen playing him on stage and he says it was a “great experience”.
“I think the play is really good,” Frost tells Sheen.
“I got over the fact of seeing oneself on stage in the first 20 minutes and after that I was admiring your work as an actor rather than saying, ‘That’s me up there’.”
The South Bank Show special on Michael Sheen will be screened on ITV1 on Sunday, June 17 at 10.45pm