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A Much-Needed Reminder That One Sheen Still Has The Profound Power To Make Me Perspire

By Joanna Robinson | Posted Under Seriously Random Lists | Comments (31)

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Yesterday, we reminded you of the stentorian greatness of Martin Sheen, and so today, in our continuing effort to preserve the good name “Sheen,” we want to remind you of the chameleonic prowess of the prodigiously talented Michael Sheen. That’s a mouthful…let’s just say he’s pretty great. He’s rather ordinary looking, no?

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And yet, for the reasons listed below, his presence in any film (with one vampiric exception) makes it worth a look.

Mary Reilly: For keeping a straight face when confronted with Julia Roberts’s dismal Irish accent.

Twilight: New Moon: For keeping a straight face when confronted with Robert Pattinson in a velour bathrobe. (Nope, I still didn’t see this movie. And I won’t. Not for all the Sheens in England.)

TRON: Legacy: For keeping a straight face through all of the things going on here.

“30 Rock”: For holding his own against Tina Fey.

Frost/Nixon: For holding his own against Frank Langella.

Bright Young Things: For playing it super effeminate in 2003. (skip to 4:20)

Underworld: For playing it super masculine in 2003.

The Deal: For playing Tony Blair not once.

The Queen: Not twice.

The Special Relationship: But three times. That’s range.

F.Y.I. This is much closer to “goddess” territory.

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So well done, Sheen.

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Joanna Robinson would like her favorite actors to stop getting their hands dirty with this Twilight nonsense. Lee Pace, I’m looking at you.









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Comments

Lee Pace probably got paid more for Twilight than for the whole run of Pushing Daisies.

JUSSAYIN

Actors gotta eat/buy more motorcycles.

Posted by: Ian at March 11, 2011 10:08 AM

He was genius in Damn United. Making Brian Clough into a sympathetic figure would be the UK equivalent of film audiences cheering for Barry Bonds in a biopic about his steroid usage.

Posted by: brian k at March 11, 2011 10:19 AM

What did you say? I'm sorry. I got distracted by the McAdams.

Posted by: lubeg at March 11, 2011 10:25 AM

As if being a versatile actor isn't enough, the man virtually redefines "boyish grin". I can't help but melt, and more than a little bit.

Posted by: seed at March 11, 2011 10:25 AM

I was totally expecting the word "thrice" instead of "three times" with the Blair thing. I'll live.

Posted by: Paultera at March 11, 2011 10:35 AM

this guy also f@cks kate Beckinsale during 10 years and they have a kid together: he may have a "stuff" to date with some so beautiful women

Posted by: caro at March 11, 2011 10:35 AM

Oh my Overlord!

He's going out the woman who's supposed to be my wife by now, had I not lost the page I'd written my infallible, 15 step, life-plan on!

I'd hate the prick if I didn't admire him so much right now. If we meet at some point in the future I guess I'll just have to shake his hand.

Bastard!

Posted by: Murderbot at March 11, 2011 10:40 AM

This guy's my personal hero.
After Vincent Cassel, of course.

Posted by: Big Softie at March 11, 2011 10:41 AM

Good on ya for mentioning Bright Young Things, JoRob, which seems to have gone completely overlooked by basically everyone, yet the far inferior Atonement got scores of Oscar nominations a few years later. Also, Emily Mortimer > Keira Knightley.

P.S. - Sheen was also in the third Underworld movie, and I think he appears shirtless more than once. But, I could be mistaken, as I was mostly thinking about Rhona Mitra from Hollow Man when I watched it.

Posted by: RobP at March 11, 2011 10:56 AM

The most confusing imdb photo gallery ever.

Posted by: Jay at March 11, 2011 10:58 AM

brian k:

Amen to that. Although Cloughie did support the miners and sent them a lot of money during the strike so "the lad weren't all bad" as he might say himself. Still, the memories of the League Cup final in 1979 still rankle. I can never forgive.

Remember this one: Brian Clough was sunbathing on a Majorcan beach when the police approached him and asked if he'd please move his head because the tide wanted to come in!!! Ah, the old ones are the good ones.

Posted by: PaddyDog at March 11, 2011 11:05 AM

"I was totally expecting the word "thrice" instead of "three times" with the Blair thing. I'll live."

You mean they thrashed Thrace thrice?

Posted by: PaddyDog at March 11, 2011 11:07 AM

Oh, Joanna -- You and me both woman. I find Michael Sheen sublimely irresistible. The one film you didn't note here is The Damned United, in which Sheen does a brilliant turn as the Manchester United's coach Brian Clough, and his dialect in that movie just made me kind of squishy and wet in the middle.
ALSO: IN THE WAY OF CONFESSIONS: I hereby confess that I have watched Underworld: Rise of the Lycans not once but TWICE because Michael Sheen's Lucien is so fierce and sweaty and wonderful that I'm willing to sit through the utter travesty of that movie just to enjoy his brief sweaty glorious moments gettin' all sexy on a cliff with whatever Kate Beckensale fill-in they got for that movie.
GLORIOUS.

Posted by: Tira at March 11, 2011 11:13 AM

Sometimes I forget why I love this website. Then there's stuff like this.

Posted by: ChristianH at March 11, 2011 11:22 AM

He is a funny looking little man with bug eyes, and yet I absolutely swoon for his performances. That's how good he is.

Posted by: Reba at March 11, 2011 11:49 AM

Ooh, yeah. "Sheen me, baby" now doesn't sound so gross.

Wait, it does. But still. AND he's got my #1 GirlCrush Rachel McAdams?! Damn. I don't know what "it" is, but he's got it.

Posted by: figgy at March 11, 2011 11:56 AM

Nora Batty in a scene with Julia Roberts?!? My world has turned upside town!

Posted by: Dora at March 11, 2011 11:59 AM

I second what Jay said. SEriously though, the man is a really furiously good actor - he really disappears into a role. It's only when you have all these movies lined up here that I realize he's in so many stuff that I've seen.

Posted by: denesteak at March 11, 2011 12:22 PM

He was genius in Damn United.

Echoing brian k and Paddy. Plus, it should still be on Netflix Instant.

"I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the country, but I'm in the top one."

Posted by: branded at March 11, 2011 12:51 PM

He's also amazing in Dirty, Filthy Love, and I have a crazy big crush on him. Damn you, McAdams, STEP OFF!

Posted by: Dorothy Snarker at March 11, 2011 12:56 PM

As much as I love all of Michael Sheen's performances, my favorite thing to watch him in is when he goes on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (find many, many videos of them on YouTube). He oozes charm and is hysterical every. single. time.

Posted by: LauraB at March 11, 2011 1:42 PM

Let's not forget what a great guest he is on Craig (I'd put him in the pantheon alongside KBell and McAvoy), or that his musical tastes reveal a delightful level of dweebery:

http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/gd/gd101201michael_sheen

Posted by: Kettle at March 11, 2011 1:44 PM

He was my favorite thing in Underworld the first, and thus, I love Underworld 3 unashamedly, since it took my favorite thing from the first movie and put it front and center for 90 minutes.

He really is a reasonably ordinary-looking dude who is an extraordinary actor.

P.S. Kate Beckinsale is a dozy cunt [am I doing that right?] for leaving him.

Posted by: MM at March 11, 2011 2:22 PM

To be accurate, this particular Sheen is a real Sheen, whereas Martin and his offspring, while genetically part-Irish (through Martin's/Ramon's mother, giving him dual Irish/American citizenship), have never officially changed their names from the Spanish Estevez.

Posted by: Jerry at March 11, 2011 2:44 PM

He just seems like a dude you'd want to sit next to at a dinner party. He'd be charming and polite and witty (but not insulting) and delightful.

Unlike Charlie Sheen, who'd probably call you a bad name and then nearly barf in your lap. And then demand a lap dance or a blowjob, or both.

Posted by: Slash at March 11, 2011 4:39 PM

Oh my Lord, Michael Sheen. I love that man so hard. He's actually on my list of "quirky hot" guys - maybe it's the smile? Whatever it is, MAMA LIKE.

Posted by: luthien26 at March 11, 2011 4:57 PM

Lord, please put me in the middle of a Lee Pace and Michael Sheen sandwich.

Posted by: Draya at March 11, 2011 5:04 PM

I was first introduced to the Great British Sheen while watching Music Within, where he was at perhaps his MOST chameleonic, playing both American AND suffering from Cerebral Palsy. Middling movie, brilliant performance!

Posted by: Chucklehouse at March 11, 2011 7:03 PM

Dirty, Filthy, Love was amazing! Aw, Sheenie, I do love you so.

Posted by: Kiddo at March 11, 2011 10:18 PM

Kettle,

Did you say "pantheon?" Are you a filmspotting fan?

Posted by: John G. at March 11, 2011 10:35 PM

Michael Sheen must die now

Posted by: Protoguy at March 12, 2011 12:57 AM