Latest news with #AHomeForSparkTheDragon
BBC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Port Talbot's Michael Sheen on how late dad Meyrick inspired him
Actor Michael Sheen said his late father inspired his philanthropic nature, as he paid tribute to him following his Sheen, who was well known in his home town of Port Talbot for working as a Jack Nicholson impersonator and for his contributions to the community, died last month at the age of 85. Speaking about him for the first time since his death, his son described him as "an extraordinary character" and said he and his family had received "an outpouring of love and messages".Sheen said his father's coffin was carried into church for his funeral earlier this week by six people, each from an organisation his dad was involved with and passionate about. In Port Talbot, there is a mural of Michael Sheen and, the day after his dad died, his sister saw someone painting his dad's face on the wall too, next to his. He said that for his 83-year-old mum Irene, who met his dad when she was 14, it was an "extraordinarily emotional moment", adding it was now somewhere he would take his children."It's quite difficult to talk about and process for young children, the passing of someone, the death of a grandparent," he said. "But to be able to take them to see this picture of their grandfather on the wall, it's very moving." Sheen has recently co-written his first book for children, called A Home for Spark the said he jumped at the chance to create something his children would be able to read, and that could also be about issues he is passionate the story, Spark, who Sheen said "had to be a red dragon", has his nest destroyed in a storm. The book treads the line of raising the difficult issue of homelessness - an issue extensively campaigned for by Sheen - while offering an entertaining, engaging tale."I thought this was a really great opportunity to be able to address issues around what a home is and homelessness in a way that creates, maybe a context for children to start having those conversations with the adults in their life," he said,"Maybe start to understand it, and have a frame of reference to talk about it, and ultimately, to do something about it." Sheen has a 26-year-old daughter Lily and two younger children - Lyra, five, and Mabli, aged has seen his children's shocked reaction to seeing homeless people living on the street and said we should all still feel that way."When my own children have seen someone who's in a tent or on the street, in a doorway or whatever, there's a kind of a sense of disbelief that they have. "We as adults, have become numb to it. The appropriate response is to go, how on earth can that be possible? "And so there's something about a child's reaction to it that I think we can actually learn from."He recalled reading his girls the book for first time and said he gave it his all to win their favour, admitting it was "probably the performance of my life".
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sheen hopes to get children talking about homelessness
Hollywood actor Michael Sheen has said he hopes his new children's book will get the next generation talking about homelessness. Sheen is launching A Home For Spark The Dragon, which tells the story of a dragon who loses his home and then goes on a quest to find a new one. He said he hoped it would help children to start thinking about ways they could make a difference in future. "I've always believed that telling stories is an important way to make change in the world - and in the long run, stories for children can make the most change of all," said Sheen. Sheen says banks force people to use loan sharks Sheen to fund new national theatre for Wales Michael Sheen writes off £1m of debt for 900 people Sheen has co-written the book with Jess Webb and with illustrations by Sarah Massini. The book will help to raise funds for homelessness charity, Shelter, when it is released on 5 June. Sheen, 56, said: "I feel very fortunate that I got to grow up in a safe and happy home, but knowing that for many people this isn't the case, has increasingly made me want to do what I can to help." He said he hoped children would enjoy reading about Spark the dragon and his animal friends who live in "a magical woodland world" as they embarked on "a quest to find a new place to call home". "I hope Spark's adventure is fun to read and at the same time, that his story gives a way in for young readers to talk about what it is to be homeless - and to start to think about ways to make a difference," he added. The Welsh actor said he was proud to be publishing the book in partnership with Shelter, "supporting the important work they do to fight the housing emergency". Publisher Puffin and Sheen will give £1 from the sale of each hardback copy and 50p from the sale of each paperback copy of the book in the UK and Ireland to Shelter. The charity said that the latest statutory homelessness statistics showed that over 164,000 children were currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation in England. The charity said the figure had increased by 21,650 (15%) in just one year. Sheen has played historical figures such as former Nottingham Forest and Derby County manager Brian Clough in The Damned United, former British prime minister Tony Blair in three films including The Queen, and comic actor Kenneth Williams in Fantabulosa! on BBC Four. The actor has more recently been seen on Michael Sheen's Secret Million Pound Giveaway on Channel 4. In this documentary he used £100,000 of his own money to wipe out £1m-worth of debt for 900 people in south Wales. In January, Sheen announced he would be funding a new theatre company to fill the gap left by the folding of National Theatre Wales. He will be the artistic director of Welsh National Theatre, which will aim to tell "big stories on big stages for big audiences". Sheen: I broke down hearing kids' care stories Sheen donates £5k for boy with genetic condition
BBC News
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Michael Sheen hopes new book will get children talking about homelessness
Hollywood actor Michael Sheen has said he hopes his new children's book will get the next generation talking about is launching A Home For Spark The Dragon, which tells the story of a dragon who loses his home and then goes on a quest to find a new said he hoped it would help children to start thinking about ways they could make a difference in future."I've always believed that telling stories is an important way to make change in the world - and in the long run, stories for children can make the most change of all," said Sheen. Sheen has co-written the book with Jess Webb and with illustrations by Sarah book will help to raise funds for homelessness charity, Shelter, when it is released on 5 56, said: "I feel very fortunate that I got to grow up in a safe and happy home, but knowing that for many people this isn't the case, has increasingly made me want to do what I can to help."He said he hoped children would enjoy reading about Spark the dragon and his animal friends who live in "a magical woodland world" as they embarked on "a quest to find a new place to call home"."I hope Spark's adventure is fun to read and at the same time, that his story gives a way in for young readers to talk about what it is to be homeless - and to start to think about ways to make a difference," he Welsh actor said he was proud to be publishing the book in partnership with Shelter, "supporting the important work they do to fight the housing emergency".Publisher Puffin and Sheen will give £1 from the sale of each hardback copy and 50p from the sale of each paperback copy of the book in the UK and Ireland to charity said that the latest statutory homelessness statistics showed that over 164,000 children were currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation in charity said the figure had increased by 21,650 (15%) in just one year. 'Wiped out £1m of debt' Sheen has played historical figures such as former Nottingham Forest and Derby County manager Brian Clough in The Damned United, former British prime minister Tony Blair in three films including The Queen, and comic actor Kenneth Williams in Fantabulosa! on BBC actor has more recently been seen on Michael Sheen's Secret Million Pound Giveaway on Channel this documentary he used £100,000 of his own money to wipe out £1m-worth of debt for 900 people in south January, Sheen announced he would be funding a new theatre company to fill the gap left by the folding of National Theatre will be the artistic director of Welsh National Theatre, which will aim to tell "big stories on big stages for big audiences".
