TV

Michael Sheen Doesn’t Work For Money: ‘I’ve Turned Into a Not-For-Profit Actor’

Michael Sheen Doesn’t Work For Money: ‘I’ve Turned Into a Not-For-Profit Actor’
Image credit: Amazon Prime Video, Legion-Media

When money stop being important.

Summary:

  • Michael Sheen is a Welsh actor best known for his role as Aziraphale in Prime Video 's Good Omens.
  • The actor is known for his activist work as well as his acting.
  • With the hosting of the Homeless World Cup in 2019, Sheen has decided to completely give up his acting profits for charity.

It's no secret that the more acclaimed and recognized actors are in the industry, the richer they become. Of course, the life of luxury doesn't come easy to them, and they have to work a lot to get to the top, and many people share the opinion that such profits are simply unfair to others.

In a dialog about the richest and the poorest, charity is always a way to make the world more just. Fortunately, the majority of celebrities are happy to share a portion of their earnings with those who need their support the most.

While some do this privately, on their own terms, others prefer to speak out and raise awareness for the causes they support.

This is the path Michael Sheen chose for himself years ago, a path that eventually led him to give up all of his supplemental income.

Michael Sheen Doesn’t Work For Money: ‘I’ve Turned Into a Not-For-Profit Actor’ - image 1

Michael Sheen Cardiff Homeless World Cup

The actor has always been known for his activism, and homelessness was one of the issues Sheen was very passionate about.

In 2019, the actor helped to support the Homeless World Cup event and brought it to Cardiff. But, he admits, it almost didn't happen because he overestimated his own resources.

Speaking to the Big Issue, Sheen admitted that he faced a difficult decision. He could either admit defeat and withdraw, leaving the charity to suffer without his support, or continue to invest all his remaining wealth in the cause. The World Cup cost the actor two of his properties, and yet it only inspired him to do and spend more:

“I realised I could do this kind of thing and, if I can keep earning money it’s not going to ruin me. There was something quite liberating about going, alright, I’ll put large amounts of money into this or that, because I’ll be able to earn it back again. I’ve essentially turned myself into a social enterprise, a not-for-profit actor,” he said.

This admirable position that the actor has now taken means that he can always support as many charitable causes as his paychecks allow. Although many celebrities take a strong stance on charity and do their best to support the organizations they trust, examples as radical as Michael Sheen's are still very rare.

If you want to show your support for the actor's work, you can stream the latest season of Good Omens on Prime Video. Keep an eye out for news and behind-the-scenes updates on season 3.

Source: Big Issue