Interview Michael Sheen
Chris Lochery tumbles down the rabbit hole to talk to the English actor and man of many faces
Interview: Michael Sheen
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Having turned in such a pitch perfect performance as the ex-Prime Minister in both The Deal and The Queen, for a while it looked as though Michael Sheen would have a tough time shaking off the shackles of Tony Blair. It is testament to his skill as an actor that now - just a few short years later - people don’t really know where best to start when defining his career.
While Blair is still one of his most highly recognised roles (and we shall see him reprise it later this year in The Special Relationship), you will now find Sheen described variously as David Frost, Brian Clough, Kenneth Williams or - if you happen to know any teenage girls - Aro (and if you don’t, he’s from film version of ‘Twilight’).
He’s one of those rare talents who can’t seem to avoid both universal adoration and critical acclaim despite what part he plays on screen. So it was no real wonder that when Tim Burton was putting together his all star cast for Alice in Wonderland, Sheen would be approached to appear. Well, no real wonder to anyone but him, it seems.
“I was amazed he knew who I was and then I had to keep checking, saying ‘Tim Burton? You’re sure it’s Tim Burton? It’s not Tom Burton or someone?’ I couldn’t believe it.” In it, Sheen plays one of the story’s most iconic characters, the White Rabbit. It is he who leads Alice into her surreal world of mystery and baffling backwards-yet-forwards logic.
In many ways the story makes for the perfect Tim Burton movie and the director’s treatment of the tale really highlights the nightmarish side to Wonderland, one that Sheen speaks about with wide-eyed glee.
“I’ve been a fan of Tim’s stuff from the beginning, I’ve loved all of his films and I’ve always wanted to do something with Alice in Wonderland. I’ve always been very intrigued by it.”
Having loved the book in his teens and being encouraged and delighted to find that his daughter shares his passion (she can now recite at length from Lewis Carroll’s poems), the balance of light and shade in the source material really appeals to his sensibilities as a performer. “I suppose the first version I was ever aware of was the 1951 Disney version and even though it was quite colourful and bright you still can’t cover up the slightly sinister undertones.”
“It’s an extraordinary piece of work. It’s kind of like Beckett at times, the story set against this blasted landscape with a man who’s frightened he’s gone insane whilst also having this remarkably soulful relationship with this girl.”
It is clear - not just from his CV, or his list of upcoming projects, but simply from the way he talks - that he has a boundless capacity and passion for his work. He speaks with wild enthusiasm about everything he has done, be it a multi-million dollar Hollywood sci-fi epic like the upcoming Tron sequel, Tron Legacy, or smaller scale, quintessentially British dramas like The Damned United - the recent biopic of football manager Brian Clough and his short lived stint at Leeds United.
“We filmed in Leeds for The Damned United, we shot all the stuff at Elland Road. I’d never been before and I was rather arrogantly expecting it to be a rather drab place, but it’s really not. It’s all so vibrant and there are a lot of beautiful buildings. I was amazed at how much fantastic architecture there is mixed in with the developments and there is this strong feeling of history and tradition which I loved.“
His charm is undeniably infectious. Even when talking about the Oscars - the bash it’s cool to bash - he can’t seem to rein it in. “It’s fantastic,” he beams. “I’ve been twice and it is just fantastic. I’m very fortunate in that the two times I’ve been I’ve been in the thick of it and so you just sort of look around and see all the most famous people in the world, all in the most amazing outfits in this incredible auditorium with this amazing show going on. And what’s best is that they’re all really, really nervous.” With a wicked little grin, he adds, “It’s great to see.”
“And it’s true about those people who are employed to sit in seats when stars get up to go to the loo or walk around or whatever, but both times I’ve been I have not once got off my seat because I haven’t wanted to miss anything. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every second.”
It’s a phrase that, you can’t help but feel, sums him up perfectly.
Alice in Wonderland is out now
Posted on Wednesday 17th March 2010
Chris Lochery
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