Actor Michael Sheen reveals he’s given away ‘everything’ to fund Homeless World Cup in Cardiff
- Event, being played in Wales this year, was nearly cancelled due to lack of funds
- But actor, who supports the event, stepped in and ploughed all of his money in
Actor Michael Sheen has revealed he ploughed all of his money into funding this year’s Homeless World Cup in Wales.
Plans to hold the annual event, which gives homeless people the chance to compete in an international football tournament, in Cardiff this year almost had to be scrapped earlier this year due to a lack of funding.
But Hollywood star Sheen, a supporter of the event, agreed to hand over his entire fortune to make sure it could take place in his native country.
Actor Micheal Sheen ploughed all of his money into the Homeless World Cup in Cardiff
The 50-year-old told BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘We had a bit of a shocker a few months ago where things went awry and it looked like this might not happen.
‘And so that is why I am so excited and relieved that we are here, it is happening and it’s going so brilliantly – because we couldn’t say that because it would have frightened people.
‘A few months back we got into a bit of a state so I essentially put everything I have into this.
‘And I haven’t told anybody that before. This is an exclusive. I put it all on the line to make sure that this could happen.’
He said he could not let down the 500 people who had signed up to ‘have their lives changed’ by playing in the event.
He was seen with his pregnant girlfriend, Anna Lundberg, at the opening day of the event
Speaking of the funding he supplied, he added: ‘You either commit to this stuff or you don’t.
‘I was sick of just saying stuff or hearing people say stuff and they’re not prepared to go all the way with it. I have the opportunity to earn money… for now.
‘At this point I can work as much as I want, I can earn good money. I figured, if I’m not prepared to give it all away then what am I doing? I’m just a hypocrite. It’s pointless. You have to put it all on the line.’
Sheen is currently expecting a baby with girlfriend Anna Lundberg, 25. He said he would now be accepting lots of offers of work to rebuild his fortune.
The couple were pictured together at the opening day of the event on Saturday.
Earlier this month, Sheen tweeted: ‘Very happy to let everyone know that my partner Anna and I are expecting a little angel of our own.’ He added: ‘(Just to be clear – we’re having a baby!)’
The Homeless World Cup, which features teams from 54 countries, runs until August 3