The kindness of Michael Sheen
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There was a recent British tv show called The Assembly. I read it was based on a French concept where famous people meet neurodiverse people and get bombarded with questions, and the episode featured the actor Michael Sheen.
It had quite a profound effect on me. I’m not a particular fan of Sheen, he’s always seemed a bit too smily and shiny and slick but I thought in this programme he was really good. Genuinely open and warm and interested in the group.
The newspapers are praising one particular moment, but for me there were different things that really touched a nerve. I laughed until I nearly cried right at the end, when Sheen was shaking people’s hands and talking quietly. He has that magic ability (which I don’t) to remember names so he was greeting people by name and thanking them. Which was truly beautiful.
And then this man came up and just blurted out “what’s your name then?”
Pause
“Michael”
But there were other moments I really liked. The best, I thought, we from people who didn’t really know who he was and weren’t being anything other than themselves. People who were interested in random things like trains and Dr Who and Scooby Doo and were hoping that this kind, smiling man might be interested too.
And it made me feel better about myself too. Made me feel like I too wanted to be the kind of person random people tell random things to.
I want to be the kind of person they can do that and then if they remember nothing else about that moment than that someone listened with a genuine smile, then that’s ok.
It had quite a profound effect on me. I’m not a particular fan of Sheen, he’s always seemed a bit too smily and shiny and slick but I thought in this programme he was really good. Genuinely open and warm and interested in the group.
The newspapers are praising one particular moment, but for me there were different things that really touched a nerve. I laughed until I nearly cried right at the end, when Sheen was shaking people’s hands and talking quietly. He has that magic ability (which I don’t) to remember names so he was greeting people by name and thanking them. Which was truly beautiful.
And then this man came up and just blurted out “what’s your name then?”
Pause
“Michael”
But there were other moments I really liked. The best, I thought, we from people who didn’t really know who he was and weren’t being anything other than themselves. People who were interested in random things like trains and Dr Who and Scooby Doo and were hoping that this kind, smiling man might be interested too.
And it made me feel better about myself too. Made me feel like I too wanted to be the kind of person random people tell random things to.
I want to be the kind of person they can do that and then if they remember nothing else about that moment than that someone listened with a genuine smile, then that’s ok.
Comments
And I think, while I am sure it is hard work to an extent, this side of him is genuine. I wouldn't like to cross him, to have to argue with him, as I think he is passionate and intense on things he believes in. And I would lose. Because he is incredibly intense.
I watched a video of him doing Dylan Thomas' "Do not go gentle" and it was incredible. The power and passion he put into it.
Yes, living here in Wales one does sometimes hear about his "good works", especially in and around Port Talbot. Looking forward to seeing him in "Nye" next month.
Anyway, his character was so ridiculously over-the-top that I assumed he wasn't a very good actor. Happily, I rediscovered him in "Good Omens" and loved him.
I am a magnet for random people on trains. I think it's because I'm a plain, middle aged, average height, overweight woman who looks totally unthreatening and anonymous.
Having spent time with son in childhood cancer centre, over time I became wary of those coming with cameras in tow to either get publicity for their interactions, or from the media side looking for a sob story. We were interviewed for a newspaper one Christmas but our story wasn't used and in hindsight I'm very glad of that. They chose another family who were happy to use themselves as misery porn. When you've seen the inside of the system, it gives a whole different perspective.
I'm not suggesting this was the motivation of the story in the original post, just indicating that the motives of others may not be so pure and I've seen that in operation on a number of occasions and it's not really interrogated, just seen as playing the game. YMMV