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There are versatile actors, and then there's Michael Sheen. The beloved Welsh thespian has become one of Britain's most celebrated movie stars, with the ability to shine brightly in a cinematic triumph, or pull out a performance to save a mediocre movie.
Sheen has a peculiar gift for inhabiting familiar faces and brings their trials and tribulations to life without audiences suspending their disbelief.
Fictional Roles
Sheen has taken on many iconic roles over the years, such as the White Rabbit in Tim Burton's 2010 adaptation of Alice in Wonderland - the character has been referenced in song (the psychedelic classic by Jefferson Airplane), and shown in video games and other forms of entertainment. In fact, in the popular world of online casinos, the White Rabbit game sits atop the list of the Betfair best rtp slots.
Another notable role was as Lucian in Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, the first werewolf to be able to take human form. The film received mixed reviews, but any acclaim came from the performances of Sheen and Bill Nighy. With a nod to Sheen's talent for real-life figures, Joe Leydon of Variety wrote that the actor "hits all the right notes in a star-powered performance that will amuse anyone who only knows the actor as Tony Blair or David Frost.
Sheen as Blair
Sheen has played the former Prime Minister on three occasions, all scripted by Peter Morgan. The first is a TV film showing the events leading up to Tony Blair's agreement with Gordon Brown, supposedly conducted in London's Granita restaurant in 1994. Both Sheen and David Morrissey, as Brown, earned plaudits for their performances, and the film was critically praised.
The 2006 movie The Queen, also starring Helen Mirren (who won an Oscar for her performance as Queen Elizabeth II) is Sheen's best-known Blair. Set against a tense backdrop of mourning and anger after the death of Princess Diana, the movie was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic. Sheen reprised his role with the same team of writers and directors once more in 2010's The Special Relationship, this time opposite Dennis Quaid as Bill Clinton.
Other notable roles
Despite his now familiar face, Sheen has continued to portray figures from recent history. Brian Clough, a famously outspoken and charismatic English football manager was never far from the headlines or TV cameras during his lifetime. Yet, in The Damned United, Sheen is so convincing with his distinctive accent and mannerisms that it's easy to forget you're watching a movie.
Sheen's performances as David Frost in the excellent Frost/Nixon from 2008 (Frank Langella also puts in a career-best showing with his portrayal of the disgraced former President). It takes an unusual talent to bring to life well-known figures without imitation or pastiche.
At the time of writing, Michael Sheen is slated to play controversial royal Prince Andrew in an upcoming film. It seems an unlikely casting, but if anyone can pull a performance out of the bag, he's the man for the job.
