Michael Sheen has revealed that he initially turned down the opportunity to play former prime minister Sir Tony Blair in The Deal. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, the 56-year-old actor explained that he had been offered the role while attending a play in London but declined because of a prior stage commitment. At the time, Sheen was preparing to portray Emperor Caligula and did not want to let down the production team.
++ Lab-grown teeth could revolutionise dentistry
Sheen recalled being approached by a casting director who told him she was working on a drama about Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. “I thought she was mad,” he admitted, describing his reaction when she suggested he play Blair. Despite being urged to drop the stage role, Sheen refused, explaining that if he commits to a project, he cannot “go back on my word”. Eventually, however, a solution was found that allowed him to balance both commitments.
The actor managed to perform as Caligula at night while filming The Deal during the day. “I would wet my hair so there wasn’t Blair hair any more, put a helmet on, and jump on the back of a motorbike to the theatre,” he recalled. Exhausted but exhilarated, Sheen said he often reflected on how extraordinary it was to be playing Blair for Stephen Frears in the daytime while performing Caligula at the Donmar Warehouse in the evening. “Being tired is a very small price to pay,” he reflected.
++ International community edges closer to Gaza peace deal, says Yvette Cooper
Sheen later reprised the role of Blair in Stephen Frears’ Oscar-winning film The Queen (2006) and in The Special Relationship (2010). He is also celebrated for his portrayals of other real-life figures, including football manager Brian Clough in The Damned United (2009), journalist Sir David Frost in Frost/Nixon (2008), and quiz show host Chris Tarrant in ITV’s Quiz (2020). His Desert Island Discs song choices included Ultravox’s Vienna, Talk Talk’s Desire and the Rolling Stones’ Gimme Shelter.
