Michael Sheen: I discover it laborious to just accept non-Welsh actors enjoying Welsh roles
M
ichael Sheen has stated he finds it “very hard to accept” actors who should not Welsh portraying Welsh characters.
The Newport-born actor, 54, has starred in a raft of assorted roles all through his profession, together with enjoying Edinburgh-born former prime minister Sir Tony Blair and English broadcaster David Frost.
In an interview with The Telegraph, he mentioned whether or not he feels actors can credibly play identities they haven’t personally lived.
“Seeing people playing Welsh characters who are not Welsh, I find, it’s very hard for me to accept that,” he stated.
“Not particularly on a point of principle, but just knowing that that’s not the case.”
The actor defined that he had been confronting his ideas on which roles he feels actors can play after engaged on his new drama, Best Interests, the place he portrays the father or mother of a kid with cerebral palsy.
He added: “That’s a very different end of the spectrum, but a part like Richard III is such a great character to play, it would be sad to think that that character is no longer available or appropriate for actors to play who don’t have disabilities, but that’s because I’m just not used to it yet, I suppose.
“Because I fully accept that I’m not going to be playing Othello any time soon.
“Again, it’s not particularly a point of principle, but personally, I haven’t seen many actors who have come from quite privileged backgrounds being particularly compelling as people from working-class backgrounds.
“If you haven’t experienced something, the extreme example is, well, if you haven’t murdered someone, can you play a murderer?”
The actor has arrange his personal manufacturing firm, Red Seam, with Sherlock producer Bethan Jones with the intention of telling extra Welsh tales.
“You can shout about how bad it is, but if you want to see something be different then do it, you know?” he defined.
Sheen additionally railed towards the title of the Prince of Wales being continued.
“I think it’s ridiculous. It’s just silly. I see no reason why the title should continue. Certainly not with someone who’s not Welsh,” he stated.
“That’s not the majority view. So, whatever the majority of people want, I’m sure will continue.”