Michael Sheen's famous exes, current partner and why he left Hollywood career
The esteemed Welsh actor, Michael Sheen, is renowned for his roles in cinematic hits like Frost/Nixon and The Queen. He has captivated audiences for his string of high-profile appearances on the silver screen, small screen and on stage.
But, in the past few years, the actor has steered his career towards a path less trodden by those in the industry. Adopting a "not-for-profit" approach to his craft, Sheen has opted to focus on work that resonates with his principles, rather than chasing commercial success, redefining his professional ethos in the process. Last year, he graced the stage once more, starring in National Theatre Wales' production of Nye, which chronicled the life of Aneurin Bevan, the founder of the NHS from Tredegar.
Now the actor is fronting the documentayr, Michael Sheen's Secret Million Pound Giveaway,which will air on Channel 4 on Monday evening, March 10. On the show, the actor will be taking on £1 million worth of debt for £100,000 and writing them off. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter.
READ MORE: 'Michael Sheen's act of kindness changed my life – I didn't even know he'd done it'
The actor has lived an interesting life both on and off the screen. His relationships with well-known figures have particularly received widespread attention. Here's everything we know about the famous actor from Port Talbot, his famous relationships, why he left Hollywood and returned to Wales.
Famous relationships
Sheen has had several well-publicised romances with famous faces throughout the years. The actor's first notable romance was with English actress Kate Beckinsale. The pair began dating in 1995 after they co-starred in the play, The Seagull. In 1999, the couple welcomed their daughter Lily.
They reunited on-screen in 2002, where they starred in a film called Underworld, which was directed by Len Wiseman. The couple parted ways in 2003 after relocating from London to Los Angeles, and Kate began dating Len shortly thereafter. The couple married in 2004 but separated in 2019.
Kate has always been clear that there was no overlap in her relationships with Michael and Len, maintaining that she and Michael have remained friends to this day. In 2011, the actor began dating Canadian actress Rachel McAdams, best known for her role as Regina George in Mean Girls and Allie Hamilton in The Notebook.
The duo met while filming Midnight in Paris and have stated that their relationship started only after the movie's production concluded. The couple's relationship lasted from 2011 until 2013. Sheen then dated American comedian and actress, Sarah Silverman. The two met on set of Masters of Sex. They were a couple for four years before parting ways in February 2018.
Sarah revealed that they "broke up over Christmas" and stressed that their split was friendly, explaining: "He moved back to the U.K. and his life is really there and my life is really not there, but I love him to pieces." Michael Sheen and his current partner Anna Lundberg began dating in 2019, stepping out publicly for the first time at a screening of Good Omens in New York City in May.
The acting duo now have two children, Lyra and Mabli, and reside together in Wales. Anna has graced screens in productions such as The Sandman series and the festive film Last Train to Christmas.
Net worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Michael Sheen's net worth is estimated to be around $16 million, largely due to his acting roles on stage, as well as in TV and film productions such as the Twilight series, The Queen, Staged, Good Omens and Masters of Sex.
Becoming a 'not-for-profit' actor
As mentioned, Sheen has steered his career to become a "not-for-profit actor", opting to focus on work and roles that reflect his principles. In 2016, the actor dismissed claims that he left Hollywood to pursue a career in politics. However, the actor has focused on activism and become more involved with community issues back home in Wales over recent years.
In conversation with the Big Issue, Sheen said: "There was something quite liberating about going, alright, I'll put large amounts of money into this or that, because I'll be able to earn it back again. I've essentially turned myself into a social enterprise, a not-for-profit actor."
A pivotal moment came in 2019 when he dipped into his own pocket to ensure the Homeless World Cup event could go ahead in Cardiff. He said: "There was something quite liberating about going, alright, I'll put large amounts of money into this or that, because I'll be able to earn it back again.
"I've essentially turned myself into a social enterprise, a not-for-profit actor" The actor's return to Wales has seen him throw himself into several local projects, including contributing funds towards the new National Theatre for Wales, set to open its first production in 2026.
"The aim is to spotlight narratives that echo the heritage and voices of Wales. On politics, Michael recently confessed he has toyed with the idea of entering the political arena, but wasn't sure he could "toe some sort of party line".
Despite being known to voice his views on subjects such as Welsh politics or independence, he doesn't want to feel constrained. In a chat with Nation.Cymru, Michael revealed: "It's something that I have thought about for many years now.
"Ultimately, I come back to the same thing, which is that I feel like I don't want someone else to tell me, 'Oh, no, you can't vote for that', it's that I don't want to be beholden to other people.
"I've got a freedom and a platform for what I believe in, and I don't necessarily have to edit or censor that to toe some sort of party line for now. Now, I can see why that's the case in politics and see why you need to be able to do that, but I feel like I've got more license and more ability to create the change I want to see by being independent. So whilst that remains, then I wouldn't want to get involved. But you know that can always change."
You can watch Michael Sheen's Secret Million Pound Giveaway on Channel 4 at 9pm on Monday, March 10.
