Michael Sheen reveals he’s turned himself into a ‘not-for-profit’ actor

Michael Sheen has revealed he has become a ‘not-for-profit’ actor after putting his homes up for sale to help the homeless. 

The actor, 52, who is estimated to have a $16million net worth, spoke of how he made the ‘liberating’ decision to sell his two mansions and move back to Wales in order to raise funds for those in need.

Michael told the Big Issue how he stepped in to bankroll the 2019 Homeless World Cup in Cardiff when funding for the £2m project fell through at the last moment.

After it was successfully staged, he realised he could use his wealth and profile to help with similar ventures prompting him to put up his two homes for sale.     

Speaking to The Big Issue for their Letter To My Younger Self, he said: ‘I had to make a decision – I could walk away from it, and it wouldn’t happen. I thought, I’m not going to let that happen. So, I put all my money into keeping it going.

‘I had a house in America and a house here and I put those up and just did whatever it took, it was scary and incredibly stressful.

Big gesture: The actor, who is estimated to have a $16million net worth, spoke of how he made the ‘liberating’ decision to sell his two mansions (pictured with David Tenant in Good Omens) 

Love: Michael is in a relationship with Swedish actress Anna Lundberg – they have a daughter called Lyra together – (Martin and Anna pictured in January 2020)

‘I’ll be paying for it for a long time. But when I came out the other side I realised I could do this kind of thing and, if I can keep earning money it’s not going to ruin me.

Michael said he puts ‘large amounts of money into this or that’ because he feels he will be able to earn it back again. 

The star has already pledged £50,000 over five years to fund a bursary to help Welsh students go to Oxford University. 

The TV star decided to return to his native Wales after immersing himself in local life when working on The Passion, a 72-hour play through the streets of Port Talbot in 2011 because it made him aware of initiatives and charities that were in need of high-profile help and support.

The actor spoke after getting to know people and organisations in his hometown he realised the difference funding could make. 

Michael said he didn’t want to just be a ‘patron’ or a ‘supportive voice’ because he wanted to do more to help the community. 

After developing an acting career on stage in the nineties,  Sheen became better known as a screen actor since the 2000s, in particular through his roles in various biographical films.

 With writer Peter Morgan, he has starred in a trilogy of films as British politician Tony Blair: the television film The Deal in 2003, followed by The Queen (2006) and The Special Relationship (2010). 

More recently he played Chris Tarrant in Quiz and starred in Good Omens. 

Home sweet home: The TV star decided to return to his native Wales after immersing himself in local life when working on The Passion (pictured at his home in Wales)