Michael Sheen OBE
Sheen at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con
Born	Michael Christopher Sheen (1969-02-05) 5 February 1969 (age 43) Newport, Wales
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1991–present
Partner	Kate Beckinsale (1995–2003; 1 child) Lorraine Stewart (2004–2010) Rachel McAdams (2010–present)

Michael Christopher Sheen, OBE (born 5 February 1969), is a Welsh stage and screen actor. After training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Sheen made his professional debut in 1991, starring opposite Vanessa Redgrave in When She Danced at the Globe Theatre. He worked mainly in theatre throughout the 1990s and made notable stage appearances in Romeo and Juliet (1992), Don’t Fool With Love (1993), Peer Gynt (1994), The Seagull (1995), The Homecoming (1997) and Henry V (1997). His performances in Amadeus at the Old Vic and Look Back in Anger at the National Theatre were nominated for Olivier Awards in 1998 and 1999, respectively.

In the 2000s, while continuing to make sporadic stage appearances, Sheen became known primarily as a screen actor. In 2003, he was nominated for a third Olivier Award for his performance in Caligula at the Donmar Warehouse and had a breakthrough performance as the British politician Tony Blair in the television film The Deal. He received a BAFTA Award nomination in 2004 for his work in the ITV drama Dirty Filthy Love. In 2006, Sheen starred as the troubled comic actor Kenneth Williams in BBC Four's Fantabulosa! and came to the attention of an international audience when he reprised his role as Blair in The Queen. Both performances were BAFTA Award-nominated. Sheen received a fourth Olivier Award nomination in 2006 for portraying the broadcaster David Frost in Frost/Nixon at the Donmar Warehouse and he later revisited the role of Frost in the 2008 film adaptation of the play. In 2009, Sheen appeared in two fantasy films, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans and The Twilight Saga: New Moon, and starred as the outspoken football manager Brian Clough in The Damned United.

In the 2010s, Sheen has divided his time between film, television and theatre work. In 2010, he made a four-episode guest appearance in the NBC comedy 30 Rock and was nominated for an Emmy Award for his portrayal of Blair in the HBO film The Special Relationship. He appeared in the science-fiction film Tron: Legacy (2010) and Woody Allen's romantic comedy Midnight in Paris (2011). At Easter 2011, Sheen directed and starred in National Theatre Wales's The Passion, a 72-hour secular passion play staged in his hometown of Port Talbot. From October 2011 until January 2012, Sheen played the title role in Hamlet at the Young Vic.

Sheen had an eight-year relationship with English actress Kate Beckinsale from 1995 until 2003; they have one daughter. He is in a relationship with Canadian actress Rachel McAdams and lives in Los Angeles, California. He is the president of TREAT Trust Wales, the Welsh ambassador of FILMCLUB and a patron of numerous charitable organisations including Scene & Heard.

Early life[link]

Sheen was born in Newport, Wales,^[1] the son of Irene (née Thomas), a secretary, and Meyrick, a British Steel personnel manager.^[2][3] He has one younger sister, Joanne.^[3] When he was five, the family moved to Liverpool, England but settled in his parents' hometown of Baglan in Port Talbot, Wales three years later.^[4][5] Port Talbot is also the hometown of actors Richard Burton and Anthony Hopkins. Director Sam Mendes has described Sheen as "a stage creature" and attributed that to the actor's Welsh roots. "I'm serious. He's Welsh in the tradition of Anthony Hopkins and Richard Burton: fiery, mercurial, unpredictable."^[6]

A keen footballer, Sheen was scouted and offered a place on Arsenal F.C.'s youth team at the age of 12 but his family were unwilling to relocate to London, England.^[5] He later said he was "grateful" for his parents' decision as the chances of forging a professional football career were "so slim". "It would have meant moving from Wales to London as a family. It was just too big an upheaval."^[7] "My career would have been over years ago now", he noted.^[8] He lost interest in playing football in his early teens.^[5]

Sheen was raised in a theatrical family – his parents were both involved in local amateur operatics and musicals^[9] and, later in life, his father worked as a part-time professional Jack Nicholson look-alike.^[10] In his teenage years, Sheen was involved with the West Glamorgan Youth Theatre and, later, the National Youth Theatre of Wales.^[9][11] "It was a brilliant youth theatre", Sheen has said, "and it taught me not only a lot about acting, but also about work ethic; it was very disciplined."^[12] He was influenced by the performances of Laurence Olivier and the writings of theatre critic Kenneth Tynan – "the combination of those two things kind of blew my head off."^[13][14]

Sheen was educated at Blaenbaglan Primary School, Glan Afan Comprehensive School and, finally, Neath Port Talbot College where he sat A-levels in English, Drama and Sociology.^[3] He considered studying English at university but instead decided to attend drama school.^[9] He moved to London in 1988 to train as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA),^[9] having spent the previous year working in a Welsh fast food restaurant called Burger Master to earn money.^[3] Sheen was granted the Laurence Olivier Bursary by The Society of London Theatre in his second year at RADA.^[15][16] He graduated in 1991 with a BA in Acting.^[3]

Career[link]

Classical stage roles (1991–2001)[link]

The Globe Theatre, where Sheen made his professional debut opposite Vanessa Redgrave in When She Danced in 1991

Sheen worked predominantly in theatre in the 1990s and has since remarked that he will always feel "slightly more at home" on stage. "It's more of an actor's medium. You are your own editor, nobody else is choosing what is being seen of you."^[17] His first professional role, while still in his third and final year at RADA, was in When She Danced at the Globe Theatre in 1991.^[18] He later described the role as "a big break. One day I was at RADA doing a movement class, the next I was at a read-through with Vanessa Redgrave and Frances de la Tour."^[19] Milton Shulman of the Evening Standard praised an "excellent" performance^[20] while The Observer wrote of "a notable West End debut".^[21]

In 1992, Sheen's performance in Romeo and Juliet at the Royal Exchange received a MEN Theatre Award nomination^[22] and led theatre critic Michael Coveney to declare him "the most exciting young actor of his generation ... a volatile, electrifying and technically fearless performer".^[10][23] His 1993 turn as Perdican in Alfred de Musset's Don’t Fool With Love at the Donmar Warehouse was nominated for the Ian Charleson Award^[24] and was described by The Independent as "quite thrilling".^[25] Also in 1993, Sheen appeared in the world premiere of Harold Pinter's Moonlight at the Almeida Theatre^[26] and made his television debut in the 1993 BBC mini-series Gallowglass.^[27]

Sheen played the title role in Peer Gynt in 1994. The Yukio Ninagawa production was staged in Oslo, Tokyo and at the Barbican Centre, London. The Times praised Sheen's "astonishing vitality"^[28] while The Independent found him "sensationally good" and noted that "the Norwegian press were grudgingly captivated by the mercurial Welsh boyo".^[29] In other 1994 work, Sheen appeared in Le Livre de Spencer at the Odéon-Théâtre de l'Europe, Paris^[30] and starred in the cross-dressing farce Charley's Aunt at the Royal Exchange.^[31] In 1995, he appeared opposite Kate Beckinsale in a production of The Seagull at the Theatre Royal, Bath^[32] and, with the encouragement of Thelma Holt,^[33] directed and starred in The Dresser at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth. In addition, Sheen made his film debut that year, appearing opposite Kenneth Brannagh in Othello.^[34] 1996 saw Sheen at the National Theatre for The Ends Of The Earth, an original play by David Lan.^[35] A minor role in Mary Reilly marked the first of three film collaborations with director Stephen Frears.^[36]

Sheen's most significant appearance of 1997 was the title role in Henry V, staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) at their Stratford-upon-Avon theatre, which earned him a second Ian Charleson Award nomination.^[37] The Times praised "a blisteringly intelligent performance".^[38] Also in 1997, he appeared in a revival of Harold Pinter's The Homecoming at the National Theatre, directed by Roger Michell,^[39] and directed Badfinger, starring Rhys Ifans, at the Donmar Warehouse.^[40][41][42] The latter was staged by the Thin Language Theatre Company, which Sheen had co-founded in 1991, aiming to further Welsh theatre.^[33][43] He then appeared in the biographical film Wilde, playing Robbie Ross to Stephen Fry's Oscar Wilde.^[44] In early 1998 Sheen formed a production company, The Foundry, with Helen McCrory and Robert Delamere to promote the work of emerging playwrights,^[43] and produced A Little World of Our Own at the Donmar Warehouse, which gave Colin Farrell his West End debut.^[45]

The Old Vic, where Sheen starred in a highly successful revival of Amadeus in 1998. The play later transferred to Broadway.

From 1998 to 1999, Sheen starred as Mozart in a highly successful revival of Amadeus.^[46] The Peter Hall-directed production was staged at the Old Vic, London and later transferred to the Music Box on Broadway. Ben Brantley, chief theatre critic for The New York Times, was particularly vocal in his praise. He noted that "Mr. Sheen elicits a real poetry from the role" and felt that, while watching him, "you start to appreciate the derivation of the term star. This actor is so luminous it's scary!".^[47] The Independent found him "quite stunning as Mozart. His fantastically physical performance convinces you of his character's genius and the play catches fire whenever he's on stage."^[48] Sheen was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Performance and an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor.^[24][49][50]

In 1999, Sheen explored the role of Jimmy Porter in the National Theatre's production of Look Back in Anger. In 2003, Sheen described the production as "the most enjoyable thing I've ever done ... everything came together".^[51] The Daily Mail declared him a "definitive Jimmy Porter... simply exhilarating in his great jazz riffs of speeches, mercurial and irresistible."^[52] "Sheen has cornered the market in explosive energy", said The Independent, "but this thrilling performance is his finest yet."^[53] The Financial Times noted: "As Jimmy Porter, a role of staggering difficulty in every way, Michael Sheen gives surely the best performance London has yet seen from him ... You hang on every word he utters ... This is a dazzlingly through-the-body performance."^[54] He was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor and an Evening Standard Award for Best Actor.^[55]

[edit] The Deal, The Queen and Fantabulosa (2002–2006)

Sheen portrayed politician Tony Blair in The Deal (2003) and The Queen (2006), his breakthrough roles.

At this point in his career, Sheen began to devote more time to film work.^[56] Heartlands, a little-seen 2002 film about a naive man's road trip in the Midlands, was his first leading film role.^[57] While The Guardian dismissed the "cloying bittersweet-regional-lottery-Britfilm", it noted that "Sheen himself has a childlike, Frank Spencer-ish charm".^[58] "It was great to do something that was so different", Sheen has said of the role. "I usually play very extreme characters but I couldn't get away with doing all my usual silly tricks with Colin."^[59] Also in 2002, he had a minor role in the action-adventure film The Four Feathers.^[60]

In 2003, Sheen appeared in Bright Young Things, the directorial debut of his Wilde co-star, Stephen Fry. An adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's novel, the film followed high society partygoers in decadent, pre-war London. Sheen played a gay aristocrat in an ensemble cast which included James McAvoy, Emily Mortimer, David Tennant, Dan Aykroyd, Jim Broadbent and Peter O'Toole. While the Los Angeles Times said he "shone",^[61] The Guardian felt the role "drastically under-uses his talents".^[62] Sheen described his character as "possibly the campest man in cinema history" and relished a scene "where I do drugs with [a then 95-year-old] Sir John Mills."^[63] In other 2003 film work, Sheen appeared as a werewolf named Lucian in Underworld^[64] and made a brief appearance in the sci-fi film Timeline.^[65]

Sheen also returned to the stage in 2003 to play the title role in Caligula at the Donmar Warehouse, directed by Michael Grandage. It was the first of just three stage appearances during the 2000s; his young daughter was now based in Los Angeles, California which made more frequent stage runs in Britain impractical.^[66] The Independent's critic declared it "one of the most thrilling and searching performances I have ever witnessed"^[67] while The Daily Telegraph described him as an "outrageously charismatic actor" with "an astonishing physical presence".^[68] The Times praised a "riveting performance"^[69] while The Guardian found him "highly impressive ... at one point he attacks his court-poet with a single hair-raising leap across a chair and table".^[70] Sheen won an Evening Standard Award for Best Actor and a Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Actor, and was again nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor.^[71][72]

Sheen's breakthrough role was as British politician Tony Blair in 2003's The Deal. The Channel 4 film explored the so-called Granita pact made by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown prior to the 1994 Labour Party leadership election, and was the actor's first collaboration with screenwriter Peter Morgan. Director Stephen Frears cast him because "he was in Mary Reilly and I knew he was brilliant."^[73] Filmed while he was playing Caligula nightly on stage, Sheen has remarked, "It’s interesting that in searching for monsters to play, you often end up playing leaders."^[74] The Daily Telegraph praised his "earnest, yet steely, portrayal"^[75] while The Guardian found him "excellent. This is intelligent and honest casting."^[76] In 2004, Sheen starred in ITV's Dirty Filthy Love, a comic film about a man dealing with OCD and Tourette's after a marital separation. Sheen spoke of "treading a fine line" because "a lot of the symptoms are intrinsically comical".^[71] He was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Television Actor and a RTS Best Actor Award.^[77][78] Also in 2004, Sheen played a pompous rock star in the romantic comedy Laws of Attraction^[79] and produced and starred in The Banker, which won a BAFTA Award for Best Short Film.^[80][81]

In 2005, Sheen starred in the National Theatre's production of The UN Inspector, a David Farr adaptation of The Government Inspector. The Times wrote of "a scathingly brilliant and inventive performance"^[82] while Variety noted that the actor "adds comic finesse to his apparently ceaseless repertoire".^[83] The Evening Standard, while conceding that the performance was "technically brilliant", expressed bemusement as to why "one of the most mercurial and inspiring actors we have seems set on impersonating Rik Mayall throughout".^[84] Also that year, he took part in the Old Vic's 24 Hour Play,^[85] in which The Telegraph felt he "dazzled".^[86] In 2005 film work, Sheen starred in Dead Long Enough, a small-budget Welsh/Irish film, with his longtime friend, Jason Hughes.^[87][88] In addition, he had a supporting role in Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven,^[89] made a cameo appearance in The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse^[90] and starred in the short film The Open Doors.^[91]

Sheen came to international attention in 2006 for his portrayal of Tony Blair in The Queen. The film focused on the differing reactions of the British Royal Family and the newly appointed Prime Minister following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997; it was Sheen's third collaboration with director Stephen Frears and his second with screenwriter Peter Morgan. He enjoyed reprising his role because Blair, at this point in his career, had "a weight to him that he didn’t have before".^[14] When asked to discuss his personal opinion of Blair, Sheen admitted that the more time he spent working on the character, the "less opinion" he has of the politician: "Now when I watch him on TV or hear his voice, it's sort of like a cross between a family member, a friend and seeing a really old embarrassing video of yourself."^[92] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone praised "a sensational performance, alert and nuanced"^[93] while Empire spoke of an "uncanny, insightful performance".^[94] Sheen was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.^[95] His second film appearance of 2006 was a supporting role in Blood Diamond as an unscrupulous diamond dealer.^[96]

Also in 2006, Sheen starred as the troubled English comic actor Kenneth Williams in BBC Four's Fantabulosa! In preparation for the role, he lost two and a half stone, studied archival footage and read Williams' published diaries.^[14] Sheen has said he is "fascinated by finding the private side of the public face".^[97] The Times found his performance "mesmerising"^[98] while The Observer described it as "a characterisation for which the description tour-de-force is, frankly, pretty faint praise".^[99] He won a RTS Award for Best Actor,^[100] and received his second BAFTA nomination of 2006, for Best Television Actor.^[101] Sheen starred in two other BBC television productions in 2006, playing H.G. Wells in HG Wells: War with the World^[102] and Nero in Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire.^[103]

[edit] Frost/Nixon and The Damned United (2007–2009)

David Frost, who Sheen portrayed in both the play and film versions of Frost/Nixon

From 2006 to 2007, Sheen starred as the television broadcaster David Frost in Frost/Nixon at both the Donmar Warehouse and Gielgud Theatre in London and at the Jacobs Theatre on Broadway. The play, written by Peter Morgan, directed by Michael Grandage and co-starring Frank Langella, was a critical and commercial success^[104] but Sheen initially accepted the role as a favour to his friends and "never thought it was going anywhere".^[105] The Guardian said the actor "exactly captures Frost's verbal tics and mannerisms while suggesting a nervousness behind the self-assurance".^[106] "He’s got the voice, the mannerisms, the blaze," said the Financial Times, "but, more than that, Sheen – as viscerally exciting an actor as any in Britain today – shows us the hunger of Frost’s ambition .. and fox-like instinct for the hunt and the kill."^[107] Sheen was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor and a Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance.^[108][109]

Sheen next appeared in the 2007 film Music Within as a political activist with cerebal palsy. He spoke of having a "responsibility" to accurately portray the condition.^[110] Variety said his performance was "remarkable.. utterly convincing",^[111] USA Today found him "outstanding"^[112] while the Los Angeles Times felt he was "reminiscent of Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot, bringing a vibrancy and wit to the role".^[113] Also that year, Sheen starred in the short film Airlock, or How To Say Goodbye in Space with Derek Jacobi^[114] and was invited to join the actors' branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.^[115]

Sheen revisited the role of David Frost in 2008's Frost/Nixon, a film dramatisation of the The Nixon Interviews of 1977. Despite appearing in the original stage production in a part written for him by Peter Morgan, Sheen was surprised to have been cast in the film: "Peter said he'd only be prepared to give the rights to someone who would cast me as Frost, which was very nice, but when the studios get their hands on something... Right up until we started filming I was prepared to be disappointed".^[116] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times asserted that Sheen embodied his character in a "compelling, intense" performance^[117] while The Wall Street Journal felt he was "a brilliant actor" who "grows his character from a bright-eyed social butterfly to a gimlet-eyed interrogator".^[118] However, The New York Times felt "the likable, watchable Mr. Sheen has been pitted against a scene-stealer" in Frank Langella's Nixon.^[119] Frost himself later said it was "a wonderful performance".^[120] Sheen was the recipient of the Variety Award at the British Independent Film Awards 2008.^[121]

2009 saw Sheen portray another public figure; he starred in The Damned United as the outspoken football manager Brian Clough. The Tom Hooper-directed film focused on Clough's disastrous 44-day tenure as manager of Leeds United and marked Sheen's fifth collaboration with writer Peter Morgan. The actor has said Clough is the real-life character he enjoyed playing most.^[122] The Guardian, writing in 2009, declared it the "best performance of his big-screen career"^[123] while The Times found him "magnificent".^[124] USA Today praised "Sheen's masterful performance"^[125] while the Los Angeles Times felt he played the role with "a cheeky, dark panache" and "skillful verve".^[126] Entertainment Weekly asserted that, despite American audiences' unfamiliarity with Clough, "what's lost in translation is recovered easily enough in Michael Sheen's astonishing performance".^[127] Variety noted that his "typically scrupulous channeling of Clough gets the tics and mannerisms right, but also carves a moving portrait of a braggart suddenly out of his depth".^[128]

Sheen at the 81st Academy Awards in 2009. He was invited to join the actors' branch of the Academy in 2007.

Also in 2009, Sheen reprised his role as a werewolf in Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, a prequel to the original film. Of his decision to take part, Sheen has said: "My rule of thumb is that I want to do things I'd like to go and see myself."^[129] The New York Times felt he was "the movie’s greatest asset ... [taking] a lively break from his usual high-crust duties to bring wit, actual acting and some unexpected musculature to the goth-horror flick".^[130] Variety said he hit "all the right notes in a star-powered performance that will amuse, if not amaze, anyone who only knows the actor as Tony Blair or David Frost"^[131] while Richard Corliss of Time noted that he "tries bravely to keep a straight face"^[132]

Sheen had a supporting role in 2009's The Twilight Saga: New Moon, the second film in the highly popular vampire series.^[133] He was paid a reported £5 million fee and director Chris Weitz has said he "aggressively" pursued the actor for the role.^[134] In its review, Rolling Stone said: "Late in the film, a real actor, Michael Sheen, shows up as the mind-reading Aro, of the Italian Volturi vampires, and sparks things up. You can almost hear the young cast thinking, "Is that acting? It looks hard." So Sheen is quickly ushered out."^[135] While The New York Times said he "preens with plausible menace",^[136] USA Today felt he "plays the character with more high-pitched giddiness than menace".^[137] He was named Actor of the Year at GQ Magazine's annual Men of the Year ceremony.^[138] Sheen made two once-off stage appearances in 2009; he performed a scene from Betrayal as part of a Harold Pinter tribute evening at the National Theatre^[139] and performed improvisational comedy as part of The Groundlings' Crazy Joe Show in Los Angeles.^[140]

[edit] The Passion and Hamlet (2010–present)

In 2010, Sheen had a supporting role in the science fiction sequel Tron: Legacy. Referring to his David Bowie-esque character, Sheen has said, "I was paid to show off basically".^[97] The Wall Street Journal found little fun in the movie "except for a gleefully campy turn by Michael Sheen"^[141] while The New York Times said he "shows up to deliver the closest thing to a performance in the movie".^[142] The Daily Telegraph felt his "lively hamming as a cane-swishing nightclub owner merely underlines how impersonal – how inhuman – much else here is".^[143] However, USA Today felt his "scenery-chewing performance ... is meant as comic relief, but this movie thunders along so seriously that the attempt at humor feels jarring".^[144] In other 2010 film work, Sheen provided the voices for characters in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland^[145] and Disney's Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue^[146] and appeared as a terrorist in Unthinkable.^[147]

Tina Fey, Sheen's co-star during a guest appearance on 30 Rock (2010). Fey has said that Sheen will return to the show in its final season.

On television, Sheen's performance in the third installment of Peter Morgan's Blair trilogy, The Special Relationship, was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor – Miniseries or Movie.^[148] The HBO film examined the "special relationship" between the US and the UK in the political era of Blair and Bill Clinton. It was the sixth collaboration between Sheen and Peter Morgan; both parties have since said they will not work together again "for the foreseeable future".^[19][149] Sheen also made a guest appearance in four episodes of NBC's 30 Rock as Wesley Snipes, a love interest for Tina Fey's Liz Lemon. Fey, the sitcom's star and creator, has said that "he was so funny and delightful to work with".^[150] "Whenever we want to wrap things up forever, which hopefully will not be next season, I definitely have a plan to bring him back."^[151] In November 2010, Sheen received the BAFTA Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year.^[152]

In 2011, Sheen starred in and was creative director of National Theatre Wales's The Passion, a 72-hour secular passion play staged in his hometown of Port Talbot, Wales.^[153] In addition to a professional cast, over one thousand local amateurs took part in the performance and as many more volunteers from local charity and community groups were involved in preparations in the months leading up to the play.^[154][155] The event was the subject of both a BBC documentary and The Gospel of Us, a film by director Dave McKean.^[156][157] Sheen has described it as "the most meaningful experience" of his career.^[158] The Observer declared it "one of the outstanding theatrical events not only of this year, but of the decade".^[159] The Independent's critic described it as "the most extraordinary piece of community-specific theatre I've ever beheld".^[160] While the The Daily Telegraph bemoaned the large-scale production's logistical problems, "overall I found it touching, transformative and, in its own wayward way, a triumph."^[161] The Guardian felt it was "so much more than just an epic piece of street theatre..transforming and uplifting".^[162] Sheen and co-director Bill Mitchell were jointly honoured as Best Director at the Theatre Awards UK 2011.^[163]

Woody Allen directed Sheen in the successful romantic comedy Midnight in Paris (2011)

Sheen's most notable film appearance of 2011 was a supporting role in Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris.^[164] Allen noted that "Michael had to do the pseudo-intellectual, the genuine intellectual, the pedant, and he came in and nailed it from the start".^[165] Sheen enjoyed playing "someone who’s just absolutely got no sense that he’s overstepping the mark or that he’s being a bore."^[166] The film opened the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and became Allen's highest grossing film to date.^[167] Also in 2011, Sheen starred in Beautiful Boy, an independent drama focusing on the aftermath of a school shooting,^[168] voiced a character in a Doctor Who episode written by his friend Neil Gaiman^[169] and made cameo appearances in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1^[170] and Resistance.^[171]

Sheen played the title role in Hamlet at the Young Vic from October 2011 to January 2012,^[172] a role he first explored in a 1999 BBC Radio 3 production.^[173] While there had been tentative plans over the years for both Peter Hall and Michael Grandage to direct Sheen in the play,^{[174][175][176]} he eventually asked Ian Rickson.^[139] Rickson's production was set in the secure wing of a psychiatric hospital and featured original music by PJ Harvey.^[177] The Evening Standard declared Sheen's performance "an audacious achievement" that "will live in the memory"^[178] while The Independent praised "a recklessly brilliant and bravura performance."^[179] The Telegraph felt that Sheen "could be right up there among the great Hamlets"^[180] while The Times found him "unbearably moving".^[181][182] The Guardian described him as "fascinating to watch ... intelligent, inventive and full of insights ... [he] delivers the "What a piece of work is man" passage with a beautiful consciousness of human potential."^[183] The Observer declared him an actor "always worth crossing a principality to see and hear" whose ""To be or not to be" is a marvel."^[184]

In 2012 television work, Sheen filmed a pilot for Showtime's Masters of Sex. He and Lizzy Caplan played the 1960s human sexuality pioneers Masters and Johnson in the as-yet-unaired hour-long drama, directed by John Madden.^[185] In 2012 film work, Sheen starred opposite Toni Collette in the independent comedy Jesus Henry Christ.^[186] He will reprise his role as the vampire Aro in the final installment of The Twilight Saga, set for release on 16 November 2012.^[187][188] He has also filmed a very minor role in Terrence Malick's To the Wonder.^[189][190]

Sheen is currently filming an adaptation of the children's novel Mariah Mundi & the Midas Box in England.^[191] He will then appear in the comedy Admission, with Tina Fey and Paul Rudd, as Fey's "stiff British boyfriend". It films in New York City in May 2012.^[192] In the fall of 2012, Sheen will film Cut Bank, a crime thriller co-starring Armie Hammer, Ben Kingsley, John Malkovich and Teresa Palmer.^[193]

Personal life[link]

Sheen had a relationship with actress Kate Beckinsale from 1995 until 2003. They have one daughter.

Sheen had an eight-year relationship with English actress Kate Beckinsale from 1995 until 2003. They met when cast in a touring production of The Seagull in early 1995^[32] and began living together shortly afterwards.^[194] Beckinsale credited Sheen with saving her from "a hospital for the criminally insane".^[195] Their daughter, Lily Mo Sheen, was born in 1999 in London, England.^[32] The actress has said she was "embarrassed" that Sheen never proposed^[196][197] but remarked, "If you keep a library book out long enough, you feel it's yours."^[198] Their relationship ended in early 2003, after the filming of Underworld.^[199] Beckinsale had persuaded director Len Wiseman to cast Sheen in the film^[200] but, while on set, she and Wiseman (who was married) fell in love.^[4] She relocated to Los Angeles, California and married Wiseman in 2004.^[5]

Sheen also moved from London to Los Angeles following the split in order to live close to his daughter. "I like LA", he has remarked. "It's grown on me and it's my home for now, but I wouldn't choose to live in LA if it wasn't for my daughter... Once Lily's older and able to move around, I'll probably return to the UK."^[201] He remains friends with both Beckinsale and Wiseman.^[202] "We were very lucky in that we didn't have an acrimonious split," Beckinsale has said. "We are still very close and [our daughter] sees us around each other."^[203] "He's absolutely one of my most favourite people ever."^[204] "I love him dearly – I would miss him dreadfully if he wasn't in my life."^[205] Sheen has said that Beckinsale "will always be one of the most important people in my life. I have real love for her and a lot of affection for Len."^[206]

Sheen had a long-distance relationship with English ballet dancer Lorraine Stewart from late 2004 until mid-2010.^[207] He is currently in a relationship with Canadian actress Rachel McAdams, whom he met on the set of Midnight in Paris in July 2010.^[208]

Sheen does not subscribe to any religion, having asked his parents at the age of seven if he could stop attending church.^[209] He has said that he usually votes for the Labour Party^[63] and has criticised the Conservative Party's Big Society initiative, describing it as "a totally cosmetic bit of PR". "Rather than trying to encourage people to do more voluntary work, I would say look at the people who are doing the work already and give them more support."^[158]

Sheen is the president of TREAT Trust Wales, a charity which aims to provide a rehabilitation and therapy centre in the grounds of Swansea’s Morriston Hospital by 2015,^[210] and is the Welsh ambassador of FILMCLUB, a charity which offers after-school film clubs to state primary and secondary schools in an effort to improve literacy levels.^[211] He is a patron of British charities including Scene & Heard,^[212] NSPCC's Child's Voice Appeal,^[213] Healing The Wounds,^[214] The Relationships Centre^[215] and WGCADA.^[216] He has taken part in a number of charity football matches, most notably captaining the winning Soccer Aid 2010 team at Wembley Stadium.^[217] He is also a patron of the British Independent Film Awards,^[218] an ambassador for the Dylan Thomas Prize^[219] and vice-president of Port Talbot Town FC.^[220]

Awards and recognition[link]

Theatre awards

• M.E.N. Theatre Award for Best Actor (1992) - nominated for Romeo and Juliet at the Royal Exchange, Manchester
• Ian Charleson Award (1993) - nominated for Don't Fool with Love at the Donmar Warehouse, London
• Ian Charleson Award (1997) - nominated for Henry V at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford Upon Avon
• Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Performance (1998) - nominated for Amadeus at the Old Vic, London
• Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor (1999) - nominated for Amadeus at the Music Box Theatre, Broadway
• Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor (1999) - nominated for Look Back in Anger at the National Theatre, London
• Evening Standard Award for Best Actor (1999) - nominated for Look Back in Anger at the National Theatre, London
• Evening Standard Award for Best Actor (2003) - win for Caligula at the Donmar Warehouse, London
• Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Actor (2003) - win for Caligula at the Donmar Warehouse, London
• Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor (2003) - nominated for Caligula at the Donmar Warehouse, London
• Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor (2006) - nominated for Frost/Nixon at the Donmar Warehouse, London
• Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance (2007) - nominated for Frost/Nixon at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Broadway
• Theatre Award UK for Best Director (2011) - win for The Passion, a site-specific performance in Port Talbot, Wales

Screen awards

• British Academy Television Award for Best Actor (2004) - nominated for Dirty Filthy Love
• Royal Television Society Award for Best Actor (2004) - nominated for Dirty Filthy Love
• British Academy Television Award for Best Actor (2006) - nominated for Fantabulosa!
• Royal Television Society Award for Best Actor (2006) - win for Fantabulosa!
• BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (2006) - nominated for The Queen
• Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor (2006) - nominated for The Queen
• Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor (2006) - win for The Queen
• New York Film Critics Online (2006) - win for The Queen
• Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor (2006) - win for The Queen
• Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor (2006) - win for The Queen
• St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor (2007) - nominated for The Music Within
• Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Actor (2008) - nominated for Frost/Nixon
• London Film Critics Circle Award for British Actor of the Year (2008) - nominated for Frost/Nixon
• Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (2008) - nominated for Frost/Nixon
• Variety Award at the British Independent Film Awards 2008 - win
• GQ Magazine's Actor of the Year (2009) - win
• Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama (2009) - nominated for The Damned United
• Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor – Miniseries or a Movie (2010) - nominated for The Special Relationship
• BAFTA Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year (2010) - win
• Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (2012) - nominated for Midnight in Paris

Other honours

Sheen was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2009 New Year Honours list for his services to drama.^[221] He was awarded the freedom of the borough of Neath Port Talbot, Wales in 2008 for his services in the field of the dramatic arts.^[222] He is an Honourary Fellow of the University of Wales, Newport,^[223] the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama^[224] and Swansea Metropolitan University,^[225] and has been awarded the James Joyce Award by University College Dublin.^[226]

List of performances[link]

In a career spanning twenty-one years to date, Sheen has 30 theatre credits, 37 film credits and 17 television credits.

Sheen has also appeared in many radio productions, particularly in the early years of his career. Notable radio play appearances include Strangers on a Train (1994) opposite Bill Nighy,^[227] The Importance of Being Earnest (1995) opposite Judi Dench,^[228] Romeo and Juliet (1997) opposite Kate Beckinsale,^[229] Troy (1998) opposite Paul Scofield^[230] and The Pretenders (2004) opposite, again, Paul Scofield.^[231] He has narrated five novels for BBC Radio 4 and Naxos AudioBooks: Crime and Punishment (1994),^[232] The Idiot (1995),^[233] The Picture of Dorian Grey (1995),^[234] A White Merc With Fins (1997)^[235] and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2007).^[236]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Michael Sheen

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Michael Sheen

• Michael Sheen at the Internet Movie Database
• Michael Sheen at the Internet Broadway Database
• Q&A: Michael Sheen
• Comprehensive career Q&A on theartsdesk.com

Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross at Live 8 on 2 July 2005
Born	Jonathan Stephen Ross (1960-11-17) 17 November 1960 (age 51) Camden, London, England[1]
Nationality	British
Occupation	Broadcaster, film critic, Talk show host, Comedian
Years active	1987–present
Spouse	Jane Goldman (m. 1988) «start: (1988)»"Marriage: Jane Goldman to Jonathan Ross" Location: (linkback:http://en-wiki.db.wn.com/index.php/Jonathan_Ross)
Children	2 daughters, 1 son
Parents	Martha Ross

Jonathan Stephen Ross, OBE (born 17 November 1960) is an English television and radio presenter, best known for presenting the BBC One chat show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross from 2001 until he left the BBC in 2010. Ross began hosting a new chat show on ITV1 starting 3 September 2011. Ross also hosted his own radio show on BBC Radio 2, and acted as a film critic and presenter of the Film programme. Other regular roles have included being a regular panellist on the comedy sports quiz They Think It's All Over from 1999 to 2006, and presenting the annual British Comedy Awards from 1991 to 2007, and 2009 onwards.

Ross began his television career as a programme researcher, before débuting as a television presenter for The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross on Channel 4 in 1987. Over the next decade he had several radio and television roles, many through his own production company, Channel X. In 1995 he sold his stake in Channel X, and embarked on a career with the BBC. In 1999, Ross took over presenting the Film programme from Barry Norman, and also began presenting his own radio show, while two years later he began hosting Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. For the chat show, Ross won three British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards for Best Entertainment Performance, in 2004, 2006 and 2007. By 2006 Ross was believed to be the BBC's highest paid star. In 2005, Ross was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to broadcasting.^[2] Ross has been involved in controversies throughout his broadcasting career.^[3][4] As a result, in 2008 he wrote a semi-autobiographical work titled Why Do I Say These Things?, detailing some of his life experiences.

Ross has been married to the author, journalist and broadcaster Jane Goldman since 1988; they have three children. Ross and Goldman have together established the television production company Hotsauce TV. Ross is known as an avid fan and collector of comic books and memorabilia, and has written his own comic book, Turf. Ross is known for his distinctive voice, flamboyant style of dress,^[2] and his light-hearted banter. He is also known for his characteristic difficulty in pronouncing the sound 'r'.

Personal[link]

Ross was born in Camden, London, England on 17 November 1960, a son of British actress and radio presenter Martha Ross.^[5] He grew up in Leytonstone^[1] and is the brother of journalist, television editor, and media personality Paul Ross; TV producer/actor Miles Ross; TV producer Simon Ross, and music industry professional Adam Ross. He was educated at Norlington School for Boys, a comprehensive school at the same time as his elder brother Paul, and at Leyton County High School for Boys, a comprehensive school. He also attended Southampton College of Art, now known as Southampton Solent University. ^[6] He then studied Modern European History at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES), University of London.^[7]

Ross with his wife Jane Goldman at the British Academy Television Awards 2009

Ross married author/journalist/broadcaster Jane Goldman, ten years his junior, in 1988, when Goldman was 18. They have since had three children: Betty Kitten (named after Bettie Page), Harvey Kirby (named after Jack Kirby, a comic book creator whom Ross especially admires), and Honey Kinney. The family lives in Hampstead Garden Suburb.^{[citation needed]}

Ross and others have used his rhotacism for comic effect and he is sometimes known as "Wossy,"^[8] including on his Twitter feed (@wossy).

Ross is known for owning exotic pets. He is a big music fan and the first band he saw live was punk rockers X-Ray Spex at Islington's Hope and Anchor pub in North London.^[9] He is a big fan of David Bowie, Roxy Music and Bryan Ferry, Queen (he was in the audience for Queen at Wembley), British punk rock, Spandau Ballet, Sparks, Star Trek, Doctor Who (his favourite Doctor was Jon Pertwee), and comic books. Ross has even co-owned a comic shop in London with Paul Gambaccini and released Turf, his first comic book, in 2010, with American artist Tommy Lee Edwards.^[10] He was also the visual inspiration for the main character in the comic book Saviour. Ross is also greatly interested in Japan, presenting a BBC-TV series on many different aspects of Japanese culture, Japanorama, for three series between 2002–07. He was a regular at London's Blitz club during the early 1980s (famous for the Blitz Kids). He is a fan of the singers Morrissey and George Michael.^{[citation needed]}

He is a friend of comedian Ricky Gervais and bought him a kitten after Gervais' previous cat, Colin, had died. The cat's name is Ollie and was presented to him on an episode of Ross' talk show Friday Night With Jonathan Ross.^[11] He was one of the special celebrity guests in the final episode of Gervais's second season of Extras, in which Gervais's character, Andy Millman, and Ross were shown to be the best of friends after a fictional appearance on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross.^[12]

He is also a close friend of author Neil Gaiman, and he and his wife appear in Gaiman's short story "The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch", collected in Fragile Things.

In 2005, Ross was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to broadcasting.^[13] He celebrated the news by playing "God Save the Queen" by the Sex Pistols on his Radio 2 show.^[14]

When interviewing Colin Farrell on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on 19 February 2010, Ross claimed not to have consumed alcohol for ten years.

Ross has attended a fund raiser for the James Randi Educational Foundation called The Amazing Meeting in London in 2009 and 2010. Interviewed by Rebecca Watson, Ross described himself as a big fan of James Randi and the other speakers – who were mainly prominent sceptics – and said that he and his wife had come to have a sceptical view of the world.^[15] Ross has been supportive of Simon Singh's efforts to defend an accusation of libel by the British Chiropractic Association and Ross has posed for the Geek Calendar 2011, a fund raiser for the libel reform in the UK.^[16]

At a book signing event in Central London in September 2010, Ross stated that as a youngster he went to school in Leyton (Leyton Senior High School) and supports Leyton Orient F.C.^{[citation needed]}

On 6 June 2011, it was announced that Ross' beloved pug Mr Pickle had been killed in an accident on board a train while Ross was filming a new travelogue show for ITV.^[17] Mr Pickle was well known to both viewers and listeners of Ross' TV and radio shows.

Career[link]

Child actor[link]

Following the acting lead of his mother, who appeared as an extra on television shows such as East Enders, Ross appeared in television ads as a child actor. His first, for the breakfast cereal Kellogg's Rice Krispies, gave him his television debut in 1970, when he was 10 years old.^[18][19] He also appeared in an ad for the laundry detergent Persil.^[20]

Early career[link]

Ross began his adult career as a researcher on the Channel 4 show Loose Talk. After leaving this, he worked on various other shows before beginning another research job on Soul Train, which became Solid Soul. It is believed his first appearance on television was as an extra in the 1981 It Ain't Half Hot, Mum episode, The Last Roll Call.^[21]

Channel X: 1987–95[link]

Whilst on Solid Soul, he met fellow researcher Alan Marke, and the two devised what would prove to be a breakthrough hit for Ross in 1987, The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross.

The pair based their concept on the successful American show Late Night with David Letterman, and formed a new production company called Channel X, to produce a pilot. Ross was not originally slated as the show's host, but with little time to find one Jonathan Ross stepped in and made his debut on the show in January 1987.^[22]

While the series was initially a co-production with Colin Calendar, ownership transferred to Marke and Ross, meaning that the latter retained a great deal of control as well as being presenter.^[23] The show proved popular for both Ross and for Channel 4, making him one of the major personalities on the channel.

A year later, his documentary series The Incredibly Strange Film Show introduced many to the works of cult filmmakers like Sam Raimi and Jackie Chan.

In 1989, he co-presented the biennial BBC charity telethon Comic Relief, the same year he launched One Hour with Jonathan Ross a short lived chat show on Channel 4, most notable for the game show segment "Knock down ginger" which introduced comedians such as Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer, Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson to television.

In 1991, he presented the annual British Comedy Awards on ITV. He has presented the event each year since, but in 2008 announced he would be stepping down from the role following his suspension from the BBC.^[24] In 1992 he presented an interview with Madonna about her Erotica album and Sex Book promotion.

In 1993, he was the narrator for FIA Formula One 1993 Season Review video.

Ross has appeared in numerous television entertainment programmes on several channels throughout the 1990s and 2000s. He was a regular panellist on the sports quiz They Think It's All Over, and hosted the panel game It's Only TV...But I Like It. Other projects include the BBC joke-quiz Gagtag, the Channel 4 variety show Saturday Zoo, new-acts showcase The Big Big Talent Show, and the ITV programme Fantastic Facts.

In 1995 he left Channel X, despite its profitable nature. He was quoted in a 1998 article as stating:

It was to do with a deliberate change in my life, moving away from TV as the core of my existence to focus on my family more. So I had to give up everything to do with Channel X, and I literally got only £1 for my share, which was unbelievable.^[25]

Television 1995–2006[link]

In 1995 he presented Mondo Rosso, a programme about old cult films. He took over presenting of the Film programme, the BBC's long-running cinema review series, in 1999 after Barry Norman left the show. Ross himself has made a number of cameo appearances in films, playing himself in the Spice Girls' film Spice World (1997) and voicing the character of Doris in the UK version of Shrek 2 (2004). He also played himself in Only Fools and Horses, presenting Goldrush, a fictional television quiz on which the main character, Del, was a contestant. In 2001 he voiced characters in two episodes of the animated comedy series Rex the Runt. In the 30 October episode of Film 2006, Ross also claimed that he had appeared as an extra in the 1981 film 'The Rise and Fall of Idi Amin', as an Israeli soldier raiding Entebbe Airport.^{[citation needed]} He also appeared on the first pilot show for Shooting Stars, acting as a team captain.

BBC Radio: 1999–2010[link]

Ross began presenting a Saturday morning show on BBC Radio 2 in 1999. He has also presented radio shows for BBC Radio 1 and Virgin Radio (having previously worked on Richard Branson's earlier venture, Radio Radio), as well as the now-defunct commercial radio network service The Superstation, where his producer was Chris Evans.

From 23 May 2009, Ross' BBC Radio 2 show was pre-recorded 24 hours before broadcast.^[26] This decision was made to make the show more watertight and, according to the press, to make sure any of Ross's off-the-cuff comments might be edited out.^[27]

Ross' show on Radio 2 last aired on 17 July 2010 when his contract at the BBC ended.

[edit] Friday Night with Jonathan Ross: 2001–10

Ross with friend Ricky Gervais at Live 8 in July 2005

On 2 November 2001, Ross began presenting his chat show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.

In 2005, Ross anchored the BBC television coverage of the Live 8 concerts. Later that year he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to broadcasting. He celebrated the news by playing "God Save the Queen" by The Sex Pistols (which was banned by the BBC when released in 1977) on his BBC Radio 2 Saturday morning show. On 21 June 2006 Ross was made a Fellow of University College London, where he studied.

In early 2006, Ross announced that after eight years he was quitting his regular panellist seat on the sport/comedy quiz show They Think It's All Over, stating:

I’ve had a great time on They Think It's All Over, imparting my vast sporting knowledge to the nation, but I need time now to focus on my other commitments and so regrettably I won't be back for the 20th series. It's a fantastic show and from now on I'll be able to actually watch it.

However, after Ross's departure, only two more episodes of the show were made before it was cancelled.

In January 2006 he presented Jonathan Ross' Asian Invasion, broadcast on BBC Four. The three-part documentary followed Ross as he explored the film industry in Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea, interviewing directors and showcasing clips. His interest in Asian culture and his self confessed love for anime and video games led him to making three series of BBC Three show Japanorama, as well as producing another series for the same channel called Adam and Joe Go Tokyo, starring Adam Buxton and Joe Cornish. He produced the latter programme through his own production company Hot Sauce.

In June 2006, a bidding war was sparked between BBC and other broadcasters for Ross' services. Although other broadcasters were unsuccessful in poaching Ross, it is believed that their bids were higher than the BBC during negotiations. ITV, who bid for Ross, poached chat host Michael Parkinson around the same time. Ross became the highest paid television personality in Britain, when a new BBC contract secured his services until 2010, for a reported £18 million (£6 million per year).^[28]

On 25 June 2006, he performed at the Children's Party at the Palace for the Queen's 80th birthday. In August 2006, Ross was enlisted to ask the first question^[29] since the transition from beta for the Yahoo Answers in UK and Ireland. On 16 March 2007, Ross hosted Comic Relief 2007 alongside Fearne Cotton and Lenny Henry. On 7 July 2007 Ross presented at the Live Earth concert.

Starting on 10 September 2007 he presented the BBC Four series Comics Britannia, about the history of the British comic. This forms the core of a Comics Britannia season, which includes another documentary, In Search of Steve Ditko, by Ross.^[30]

In May 2008, Ross won the Sony Gold Award "Music Radio Personality of the Year".^[31]

On 3 August 2008, on BBC1, he hosted Jonathan Ross Salutes Dad's Army.

In 2010, Ross took part in Channel 4's Comedy Gala, a benefit show held in aid of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, filmed live at the O2 Arena in London on 30 March.

On 7 April 2010, Ross's first comic book was published. Turf was written by Jonathan himself and drawn by artist Tommy Lee Edwards.^[32] In 2011, Ross wrote an introduction for The Steve Ditko Omnibus Vol. 1,^[33] a collection of work by the American comics artist featured in Ross' 2007 documentary.

In one of his last appearances on the show, Ross was bundled on repeatedly by Gary Lineker, Ross Noble, Damon Albarn, Jamie Hewlett & Tinie Tempah, after a performance of Gorillaz' iconic song "Clint Eastwood" & "On Melancholy Hill".^{[citation needed]}

Leaving the BBC (2010)[link]

On 7 January 2010, Ross confirmed that he would leave the BBC in July 2010, having decided not to renegotiate his contract. This would see him leave all his regular BBC roles, namely his Friday night chat show, Radio 2 show and a film review programme, although he would be continuing with some specials, such as Comic Relief and the BAFTA Awards.^{[34][35][36][37]}

Explaining the decision, Ross said:

Although I have had a wonderful time working for the BBC, and am very proud of the shows I have made while there, over the last two weeks I have decided not to re-negotiate when my current contract comes to an end. While there, I have worked with some of the nicest and most talented people in the industry and had the opportunity to interview some of the biggest stars in the world, and am grateful to the BBC for such a marvellous experience. I would like to make it perfectly clear that no negotiations ever took place and that my decision is not financially motivated^[34]

The decision came a day after it was announced that Graham Norton had signed a two-year deal with the BBC, and the BBC's media correspondent Torin Douglas speculated Norton would be a ready-made replacement for Ross's chat show role, while Mark Kermode of BBC Radio 5 Live was a potential successor in the film review role, but that "replacing Ross on radio will be harder". ^[34] Ross last appeared on the film programme in Episode 10 of Film 2010 with Jonathan Ross aired on 17 March 2010. After Kermode publicly ruled himself out on 26 March, Claudia Winkleman was announced 30 March 2010 as his replacement as host of the Film programme, who was to host Film 2010 from September 2010.^[38][39]

Ross's final Friday Night chat show episode aired on 16 July 2010, with David Beckham, Jackie Chan, Mickey Rourke, and Roxy Music as guests. Ross ended the show with an affectionate tribute to his guests and to the audience, while mentioning that he had promised his friend Morrissey that he would remain composed and "wouldn't cry". His final Radio 2 show was broadcast the following day. Patrick Kielty initially took over Ross' Radio 2 slot from 24 July 2010 after which Graham Norton took over permanently.

2010 onwards (ITV and Cinemoi)[link]

On 14 December 2010, Jonathan Ross announced his creative partnership with CineMoi, the UK's first and only independent French film channel. His deal with the company gives him a multi-faceted role as presenter, producer, creative director and shareholder in the company. A life long cinephile Ross has a unique perspective on French film and hopes to encourage 'first-timers' to explore a world of film that differs slightly from that of the regular Hollywood fare.

On 19 December 2010, Ross presented a three hour Channel 4 list show, 100 Greatest Toys, with the broadcaster describing Ross as a "huge toy enthusiast with a private collection that would rival any museum's."^[40][41]

In 2011, he presented Penn & Teller: Fool Us on ITV, a collaboration with magicians Penn & Teller.

Ross's new chat show The Jonathan Ross Show began on 3 September 2011 on ITV1,^[42] drawing an audience of 4.3m viewers, compared to the 4.6m for his finale on the BBC show.^[43] The first series will run for thirteen weeks. Speaking about the new show, Ross said: "I am thrilled and excited that after a short break I will be rolling up my sleeves and creating a brand new show for ITV1."^[44] Ross will also host a panel show from 2012 called Trending Topics also for ITV. The show will involve the social-network site Twitter. In Spring 2012, Ross appeared in the ITV panel show Mad Mad World.

Ross is currently planning to film a television piece with Lucha Britania. [45]

Controversies[link]

BBC contract[link]

In April 2006, Ross, along with other BBC personalities, had details of his fees leaked to the tabloid press.^[46] It was claimed at the time, by a then-unidentified BBC mole, that Ross earned £530,000 (equivalent to £10,000 per show) per year for hosting his Radio 2 show.^[47] While refusing to comment specifically on the leak in line with BBC policy on the matter, Ross did hint during his radio show that the figure was exaggerated; in addition to this, any pay highlighted as being "his" would actually be split between himself and his producer/co-presenter on the show, Andy Davies.

David Cameron interview[link]

In June 2006, when Conservative Party leader David Cameron appeared on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Ross began a line of questioning relating to Conservative ex-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, culminating in the question "Did you or did you not have a wank thinking of Margaret Thatcher?". Ross was defended by the BBC publicly, but repeat showings of the interview have been banned.^[48]

Heather Mills comment[link]

In 2006, Ross was criticised when he made a joke against Heather Mills, soon after she and Paul McCartney announced they were to divorce. He branded Mills, who has only one leg, a "fucking liar" and that he "wouldn't be surprised if we found out she's actually got two legs".^[49]

"1,000 journalists" comment[link]

On 5 December 2007, Ross joked at the British Comedy Awards that his salary meant that he was "apparently worth 1,000 BBC journalists". His quip came shortly after the BBC had announced plans for more than 2,000 jobs cuts, and was condemned as "obscene" by the general secretary of the National Union of Journalists.^[50] Ross has denied this saying that he was commenting on a piece that was written in a newspaper about his salary being that of 1,000 journalists:

"You know where that came from? The newspapers. After the fee was announced, they said, 'The BBC says he's worth 1,000 journalists', so on the Comedy Awards I made a joke that began, 'Apparently I'm worth 1,000 journalists according to the newspapers.' Every time it's quoted, is the word 'apparently' ever used? Which does change the meaning somewhat."^[51]

The Russell Brand Show and Andrew Sachs[link]

Following a guest appearance by Ross on The Russell Brand Show broadcast on 18 October 2008, Ross was suspended for 12 weeks without pay by the BBC on 29 October, after a series of answer phone messages were left for 78-year-old actor Andrew Sachs regarding Sachs' granddaughter Georgina Baillie, by Russell Brand and Ross, which were broadcast on the pre-recorded show.^[52] After little initial interest, a media story about the calls generated a high number of complaints. Brand resigned from the BBC, while Ross was suspended without pay. BBC director general Mark Thompson stated that Ross should take the disciplinary action as a "final warning".^[53][54] The BBC was later fined £150,000 by Britain's broadcast regulator for airing the calls.^[55]

On 21 November 2008, the BBC Trust said that the phone calls were a "deplorable intrusion with no editorial justification".^[56] The trust gave its backing to Ross's 12 week suspension but recommended that no further action be taken against him. He returned to work in January, and the first episode of a new series of Friday Night With Jonathan Ross with guests Tom Cruise, Stephen Fry and Lee Evans, and music from Franz Ferdinand, was broadcast on 23 January 2009.

Gwyneth Paltrow interview[link]

The BBC Trust ruled that Ross’s interview with Gwyneth Paltrow, broadcast on 2 May 2008, breached editorial guidelines. They ruled that bad language in an episode of Ross's pre-recorded BBC1 chat show, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, in which the presenter told Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow he "would fuck her" was "gratuitous and unnecessarily offensive". The trust said it disagreed with the judgement made by BBC management that the episode should be broadcast uncensored, adding that the comment was made in an "overly sexual way" and that it had upheld a number of complaints made about the edition of Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.^[57] The trust reminded BBC staff that "the casual gratuitous use of the most offensive language is not acceptable on the BBC in accordance with the BBC's existing guidelines and practices", adding that "this particularly applies in entertainment programmes".^[58]

[edit] Hannah Montana comment

On 13 May 2009, Ross was accused of homophobia after a comment he made on his radio show,^[59] in which he said,

If your son asks for a Hannah Montana MP3 player, then you might want to already think about putting him down for adoption in later life, when they settle down with their partner.^[60]

An incorrect version of this quote was also circulated, in which Ross was accused of saying:

If your son asks for a Hannah Montana MP3 player, you might want to already think about putting him down for adoption before he brings his … erm … partner home.^[61]

Ofcom received 61 complaints following the comment. A representative from the BBC defended Ross, saying the comment was made "purely in jest" and that "Jonathan is not homophobic in any sense and never meant for his comments to be taken seriously."^[62] On 7 July 2009, Ofcom ruled that Ross did not breach the broadcasting code. They wrote in their opinion that "the comment was clearly presented as a joke intended to make light of the reactions that some parents may have if their child chooses a toy that is very widely recognised to be designed and marketed for the opposite sex" and that the nature of the joke and tone and manner in which it was presented "made clear that it was not intended to be hostile or pejorative towards the gay community in general."^[60] Stonewall criticised the ruling; saying "the fact that a comment is light-hearted does not absolve it from perpetuating the stereotypes that lead to homophobic bullying."^[63]

Video games[link]

Honours and awards[link]

• 2006, made a Fellow of University College, London (UCL), into which his alma mater, SSEES, had been absorbed.^[64]

• 2012, Special Recognition award at the National Television Awards.

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Jonathan Ross: The Biography, Neil Simpson, John Blake Publishing Ltd (31 July 2007), ISBN 1-84454-432-X
• Why Do I Say These Things?, Jonathan Ross, Bantam Press (16 October 2008), ISBN 0-593-06082-2

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jonathan Ross

• The Jonathan Ross Show on itv.com
• Jonathan Ross at the Internet Movie Database
• Interactive video talk by Jonathan Ross on Ealing studios for the British Film Institute