Sometimes, an actor can escape your notice until you see them portray a character that you completely fall in love with. Then, if you hyperfocus like me, they’re addictive. When the show you initially saw them in is over, you start having withdrawal symptoms. You can’t get enough and need to see everything they’ve been in. I admit that Crowley was my first love in Good Omens, but Aziraphale took me by surprise.
What ensued was a Michael Sheen marathon of sorts, and I can’t get over what an incredibly versatile actor he is. He switches between accents with ease and never plays a stereotypical role. One minute, he’s the angelic and very good Aziraphale; the next, he’s the incredibly serious and deadpan William Masters. Here are some of my favorite Michael Sheen roles.
1. Good Omens (2019-Present)
This role first brought Sheen’s talent to my attention. The incredible thing about this character is how very human and relatable he is despite being an angel. Throughout the story, he’s the pleasant and nice one compared to Crowley. He also goes through the greatest moral crisis when he realizes that everything he is meant to blindly believe and follow isn’t always the right thing.
Michael Sheen’s mannerisms and tone of voice in this role are nothing like the actor in real life, which really demonstrates his acting chops. I can’t wait to see what happens to Aziraphale in season three of Good Omens.
2. Masters of Sex (2013-2016)
This Showtime program was canceled after four seasons, which was a little disappointing because we finally see William Masters and Virginia Johnson get married, but very few of the other characters’ storylines are complete. I do agree with some critics, though, that the writing seemed to lose direction after season two. The characters transformed a lot and new children were added to the plot that really didn’t need to be there — especially when they are absent the majority of the time.
Michael Sheen portrayed the real-life William Masters, a pioneer in the field of human sexuality who conducted years of research, attempted to remove stigma, and wrote several books on the subject. The character was completely his own creation since he had no idea how the real William Masters acted. His American accent is flawless.
3. Staged (2020-2022)
This show features Michael Sheen and David Tennant playing themselves in what appears to be a series of Zoom calls during which they’ve been roped in to rehearse for a play during lockdown. People were convinced they were seeing the actual actors, especially as other family members appeared, which cemented the idea that this interaction might be real.
Staged was mostly scripted, but Tennant and Sheen ad-libbed and improvised throughout. The result we see is edited down to the best bits. The series, which ran for several seasons, was nominated for multiple awards and won many.
4. Quiz (2020)
Sheen is almost unrecognizable as Chris Tarrant, the host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. His flat blonde hair is far from his normal curly/wavy locks. This three-part miniseries is based on the true story of Charles Ingram, who was accused of cheating on the show after winning a million pounds.
Tarrant seems impressed by Ingram for risking everything to answer the million-dollar question. He later testified in court that he noticed nothing suspicious throughout the game. If you watch the original footage available on YouTube, Sheen’s performance as Tarrant is spotless. He was nominated for three awards for his performance.
5. Prodigal Son (2019-2021)
This series is like a cross between Dexter (2006) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991). Michael Sheen plays Dr. Martin Whitly, a serial killer. His son, Malcolm Bright (Tom Payne), is worried that he may also have sociopathic tendencies, but he puts his talents into solving crimes for the NYPD. Unfortunately, the series was canceled due to low ratings, even though fans couldn’t seem to get enough.
While we shouldn’t like serial killers in general, Michael Sheen’s performance in this is somewhat deranged and amusing. Much like the feelings brought up while watching Dexter, we start to question our ethics.
6. The Queen (2006)
Michael Sheen has portrayed British Prime Minister Tony Blair three times in various films to date. The first time was in the film The Deal (2008), and the last was in The Special Relationship (2010). As a result, he’s been quoted as saying, “I’m not a Tony Blair impersonator.” The Queen deals with the royal family’s response to the events surrounding Princess Diana’s death.
The movie and its cast were nominated for various awards. While actress Helen Mirren swept up most of the major awards for her portrayal of Elizabeth II, Sheen managed to win the 2006 Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor and the 2006 Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor.
7. Underworld (2003)
Werewolf, anyone? This supernatural action-horror franchise depicts the centuries-old war between vampires and werewolves. Michael Sheen plays Lucian, a powerful werewolf leader. His performance adds complexity to the character, making him more than just your typical antagonist.
He starred in this film with his then-girlfriend, Kate Beckinsale. They’d met while performing on stage together in 1995 and broke up amicably in 2003. Their daughter, Lily, is also an actor and starred in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) with Nicolas Cage and Pablo Pascal.
8. Twilight Saga (2009-2012)
Perhaps a vampire instead? While the story of the glittery vampire Edward might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it had its moments. Here, we see Michael Sheen as Aro, a member of the Volturi, a powerful coven of vampires. This character is manipulative and calculating, and Sheen brings his own flair to the character.
Initially, Sheen is unrecognizable until he smiles. Then we know the pale-faced, black-haired vampire can’t be anyone else but Sheen. He starred in three of the Twilight franchise movies, including New Moon and Breaking Dawn Parts 1 and 2.
9. Midnight in Paris (2011)
This romantic comedy-drama stars Owen Wilson as a nostalgic writer named Gil, who is mysteriously transported back to 1920s Paris every night at midnight. Michael Sheen plays a rather annoying, pretentious character named Paul, with whom Gil’s fiance appears to be flirting.
While many of his roles are complex, you still find him endearing. In this movie, you’d prefer to punch him in the face. That’s something that shows just how versatile he is.
10. Frost/Nixon (2008)
This historical drama depicts the televised interviews between British journalist David Frost and former U.S. President Richard Nixon. Sheen portrays British television broadcaster David Frost. His performance opposite Frank Langella as Richard Nixon earned widespread acclaim, and he was nominated for several awards.
The story is based on the real interviews that took place between the two after Nixon had resigned. It’s one of the first times we hear a former president say he’s above the law. He claimed during the interviews that the president was immune from the judicial process.
11. Passengers (2016)
Hollywood lore says every bartender makes a great companion and stand-in psychologist. Michael Sheen’s role as Arthur in this sci-fi drama is no different — except he happens to be an android.
I honestly only watched this for Sheen’s endearing performance as the fun and human android. The storyline of a man who wakes too early from hibernation and chooses to wake up another passenger despite the consequences feels somewhat abusive and manipulative.
12. Far from the Madding Crowd (2015)
I’m a big fan of historical drama, so I was very happy that Michael Sheen was cast in this adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s novel as William Boldwood. He plays a wealthy but reserved landowner who falls in love with his neighbor, Bathsheba Everdene. She’s determined that she doesn’t need a man, but he wants to win her over and has to compete with two other suitors.
He manages to show the audience Boldwood’s internal struggles without saying much in the way of dialogue. That’s some pretty impressive acting.
13. Bright Young Things (2003)
Bright Young Things was comedian and actor Stephen Fry’s entry into the magic of making movies. The script, based on an Evelyn Waugh novel, revolves around an eccentric group of wealthy young socialites in the 1930s as they deal with societal change and the consequences of their risque actions.
Miles Maitland is an LGBT character in a world where it was still illegal and prosecutable to be so. Sheen does an excellent job of making you feel this character’s struggles — especially his fear and devastation at having to flee persecution by escaping to France.
14. Best Interests (2023)
This film deals with parents’ struggles and moral complexities when medical professionals make life-changing decisions about their children’s health. After Nicci (Sharon Horgan) and Andrew’s (Michael Sheen) daughter falls into a coma after dealing with muscular dystrophy her whole life, medical professionals want to take her off life support. Nicci takes the NHS to court over their decision.
Sheen plays the girl’s father, Andrew, and delivers a compelling performance as a character grappling with complex ethical dilemmas. He makes a convincing Dad figure — especially with his delivery of cringeable Dad jokes in the flashback scenes.
15. The Damned United (2009)
This biographical sports drama recounts the tumultuous and controversial tenure of football manager Brian Clough at Leeds United during the 1970s. Michael Sheen’s performance captures Clough’s charisma, wit, and determination.
If the actor seems to know what he’s doing in this role, that’s possibly because he has a soccer background. In fact, he was asked to join the Arsenal youth team, but his parents would have needed to relocate. Perhaps we wouldn’t have known the depth of his acting abilities if he’d taken up their offer.
Ree Winter, an Australian journalist now based in New Orleans, combines her love for solo travel with a sharp eye for great flight and accommodation deals. She eagerly shares her travel insights with her audience, drawing from her rich experiences. Ree holds a Master's degree in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and History. Her fascination with history is evident in her stint as a tour guide at historic house museums, showcasing her knowledge of architectural history. Beyond journalism and history, Ree has a unique flair for coffee culture. As a barista, she's operated a coffee van at various events and markets, showcasing her skill in coffee preparation.