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The Magic of a Creative Career | Michael Sheen | TED

The city of Port Talbot in South Wales is known for a few things: a steel mill, a proudly working class population and a passionate commitment to the arts that produced Hollywood superstars Richard Burton and Anthony Hopkins. In this sweet, personal talk, actor Michael Sheen shares how he was also able to take advantage…

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The city of Port Talbot in South Wales is known for a few things: a steel mill, a proudly working class population and a passionate commitment to the arts that produced Hollywood superstars Richard Burton and Anthony Hopkins. In this sweet, personal talk, actor Michael Sheen shares how he was also able to take advantage of all the city had to offer, why he’s worried that a change in approach to arts education means that kids now don’t get the same kind of chances — and the steps he’s taking to ensure that creative up-and-comers get the support and access they deserve. (With animations by Sam Orams and Sarah Klan.)

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52 Comments

52 Comments

  1. Gareth Croft

    August 4, 2023 at 4:43 pm

    “That pathway has disappeared” —- In a country run by Labour. Just saying.

    • Hazel Bowden

      August 4, 2023 at 5:14 pm

      Labour hasn’t been in power in 13 years?

    • Gareth Croft

      August 4, 2023 at 5:29 pm

      @Hazel Bowden In Port Talbot (Wales) they have.

    • Hazel Bowden

      August 4, 2023 at 6:17 pm

      @Gareth Croft ah, yes.

      I assumed Conservatives restricted central government funding to devolved nations who don’t vote their way, in the way they do local authorities in England.

  2. Aleida Tavares

    August 4, 2023 at 5:10 pm

    One of the best Tedtalks I have ever seen. The content is important and the message is encouraging. The truth coming out of is mouth feels like being seen. I felt seen. I felt seen. I felt seen. Thank you for your honesty and encouragement. Thank you to whoever brought him in. We need more of this.

  3. Clara Irving-Mayes

    August 4, 2023 at 5:27 pm

    What an absolute babe

  4. Toni

    August 4, 2023 at 5:51 pm

    That is an incredibly uplifting story. It should be heard by all children. Thank you for telling it. Three kisses.

  5. Hazel Bowden

    August 4, 2023 at 6:41 pm

    Lovely, clear, impassioned exposition.

  6. CSEP - Inspiring Keynote Speakers

    August 4, 2023 at 7:28 pm

    A journey begins with opportunity but thrives with support. ‘A Writing Chance’ beautifully exemplifies this, offering a pathway for working-class individuals to bloom as storytellers

  7. Dr. Zhivago

    August 4, 2023 at 7:43 pm

    Kate Beckinsale, Rachel McAdams… 😅😅

  8. Richard

    August 4, 2023 at 9:29 pm

    I never really noticed how great Michael Sheen is until today (I just found out his name). It’s a little frustrating that when you search his name on YouTube, just about every video has a previous Doctor Who actors name in it. Michael deserves to be in the spotlight himself. I sincerely hope they find a way to resurrect Zuse in Tron Ares 2025 as I think he was the best character in Tron Legacy. Michael Sheen was also fantastic in Twilight. I haven’t seen Staged but I’ll definitely be having a watch of some of Michael’s earlier work.

    • iHaveSpoken

      August 5, 2023 at 5:09 am

      I don’t think you’re searching far and wide enough. Michael’s career spans over over 3 decades with roles in film, stage and television. The reason DT’s name is attached to so many videos of Michael’s at the moment is due to the massive success of Good Omens. And also that Michael and David are basically work husbands now. Michael’s been nominated for Golden Globes, SAGs, BAFTAs and Emmys. If you want to explore his work more, I would recommend The Damned United, Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa, The Prodigal Son, The Queen, Frost vs Nixon, The Special Relationship – and that’s just the tip of the Sheen iceberg.

  9. MissDemeanor

    August 4, 2023 at 9:39 pm

    The rich have been standing on the throats of the poor for decades now & it’s only gotten so so much worse today. There is no representation of the working class (or the working poor) anywhere it seems these days. It’s all out of touch middle class & the ultra rich families that get all the jobs & if you grew up poor, you stay poor. If you need a mentor, or a grant, or basically any assistance at all these days, you’re out of luck & on your own.

    • Jon R

      August 5, 2023 at 1:43 am

      Wow, chip on shoulder with added ignorance, way to go!

      You realize his story was the exact opposite of your whining? That support WITHIN the community elevates the individuals, and hence the community as a whole.

      Them/us envy is so last-century.

  10. Kyrsten Marie

    August 4, 2023 at 10:48 pm

    I love Micheal sheen ❤

  11. Kyrsten Marie

    August 4, 2023 at 10:53 pm

    This is brilliant ❤

  12. Austin Denotter

    August 5, 2023 at 1:29 am

    Who?

    • Jon R

      August 5, 2023 at 1:38 am

      (Tron 2)

      Does that help?

  13. Jon R

    August 5, 2023 at 1:32 am

    Performing and especially acting is the purest form of projecting personality and power, particularly thru voice.

    It’s not a surprise that strong communities generate such exemplars.

    The trope of Welsh singing, historical mine bands etc also…

    The welsh voice, diction. Like other English speaking countries and regions, precision and clarity, strength and musicality… The ability to speak!

    Ironically the majority of actually English people talk like a muddy turgid pond, compared to this bright clean accent.

    And doing it young locally in amdram… Like F1 drivers if you don’t do karting aged 11, you have no chance.

    And as he illustrates, a healthful lifestyle that permits stimulated thinking, the ability to string thoughts together…. To be able to memorize a script and deliver a coherent speech without fluffing a single time… Is exceptional.

    So many folks never get the chance to do these basic things, to be nurtured and supported as children, they are anonymous drones destined to .

    Fundamentally a high standard of education at home and at school is critical to build a vocabulary and ability to build complex sentences…

    And writing is another effortful skill that anyone could gain with practice, but few take the time to try at any age.

    So having aspirations is great, but if it was easy everyone would do it.

  14. Amrutha Girish

    August 5, 2023 at 2:59 am

    A ‘Master’ful storyteller himself (punintended), it is so refreshing to see a creative giant paying it forward with this brilliant programme ❤

  15. Andy Cordy

    August 5, 2023 at 4:18 am

    The death of the meritocracy leads to mediocre leadership by people who have been brought up to believe in their right to rule rather than qualifying for their role in our society based on their ability to do it. Could this be why we are destined to be led by boasters, cheats and the incompetent?

  16. Jill Price

    August 5, 2023 at 5:45 am

    This is so frightening for all the potential working class children gifted in any way. Michael is highlighting but do people have the motivation to support him?

  17. seven

    August 5, 2023 at 6:19 am

    This was incredibly moving. Seeing a successful person acknowledging their struggles as well as the advantages they’ve had over the years can be so inspiring. Thank you, Michael. This needed to be said, and you’ve said it beautifully. I hope we can all contribute to the betterment of the world in our own ways.

    • No One Star

      August 5, 2023 at 10:30 pm

      “Silence is not emptiness. There are some lessons which sound… cannot teach.” –Artemis

      🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨
      “Before I start, I must see my end.
      Destination known, my mind’s journey now begins.
      Upon my chariot, heart and soul’s fate revealed.
      In time, all points converge, hope’s strength re-steeled.
      But to earn final peace at the universe’s endless refrain,
      We must see all in nothingness…
      Before we start again.”
      🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨
      –Diamond Dragons (series)

  18. HappinessTheBrand

    August 5, 2023 at 8:12 am

    What is that music playing behind him?

  19. P A N T E R B D

    August 5, 2023 at 1:35 pm

    This guy’s sound is so good.

  20. 太田陽介

    August 5, 2023 at 6:28 pm

    What’s the music used this video?

    • pik pok

      August 10, 2023 at 10:13 am

      Little Things by Adrian Berenguer

  21. 太田陽介

    August 5, 2023 at 6:29 pm

    Please tell me!!

  22. Buildings1772

    August 5, 2023 at 7:22 pm

    I wish I could like a video twice.
    Just this one time

  23. arabella champaq

    August 5, 2023 at 7:37 pm

    I am so moved and inspired by Michael Sheen’s work.

  24. Nitu

    August 5, 2023 at 8:17 pm

    🎉

  25. No One Star

    August 5, 2023 at 10:27 pm

    “Reflect upon the Past.
    Embrace your Present.
    Orchestrate our Futures.” –Artemis

    🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨
    “Before I start, I must see my end.
    Destination known, my mind’s journey now begins.
    Upon my chariot, heart and soul’s fate revealed.
    In time, all points converge, hope’s strength re-steeled.
    But to earn final peace at the universe’s endless refrain,
    We must see all in nothingness…
    Before we start again.”
    🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨
    –Diamond Dragons (series)

  26. Yit

    August 5, 2023 at 11:21 pm

    My mom is making me watch this

  27. JA

    August 6, 2023 at 12:51 am

    0:08 🌻👁️🌻 0:12

  28. Nana Samsam

    August 6, 2023 at 3:40 am

    I come here to improve my English ❤

  29. Invox

    August 6, 2023 at 10:27 am

    Now that’s a Talk worth listening.

  30. Avi Richar

    August 6, 2023 at 11:47 am

    This is indeed wonderful to hear about. Although also saddening how the same needs and realities were pointed out, and begun to be implemented, in essentially key ways 50 years ago, and even more essentially but all the more usefully/pro-actively 100 years ago, and then forgotten so that now it seems like a “new” thing to re-implement, and restore, and start all over again….

    We need to actually get to where we don’t have to restart from scratch all the time, and that means not taking 2 steps back for every 1 forward.

    Which of course gets to some of the key political/power dynamics that are at the root of why things are stuck in “the way it is” in this regard. Not just going “oooo, aaaaa” when rare instances of hero/saint/whatever/lucky/Willy-Wonka “prodigies” get to break the pattern. But actually pro-actively doing what it takes to make things real for most/all, not just few.

    Duh.

  31. Patrise Henkel

    August 6, 2023 at 12:22 pm

    Representation matters: growing up in the 60s in the US women artists were completely invisible. Even in college I was only exposed to a few. Artemisia Gentilesci, Alice Neel. I had no idea they existed until decades later. Fortunately my grandmother took me to the museum and gave me a membership there-I remember what an amazing honor that was! Bless you Michael! You are a gift to the world.🥰

  32. Josué Souza

    August 6, 2023 at 5:17 pm

    I’m Brazilian and I’m studying the English language. Why do you guys keep making those lip smacks while talking? Once I noticed it, I couldn’t stop noticing it. what a annoying noise kkkkk

    • Jacob

      August 7, 2023 at 7:30 pm

      Like the ‘tu’? From your tongue hitting the root of your mouth and pulling back? Or like the ‘bu’?

  33. Mike T

    August 6, 2023 at 9:56 pm

    White + male = privileged? Not necessarily.

    • Emily Martin

      August 7, 2023 at 6:20 am

      Yes necessarily. Privilege doesn’t mean your life isn’t hard, it means your gender and skin colour (in this instance) aren’t the things making it hard. It means there are barriers you don’t face.

    • Mike T

      August 7, 2023 at 8:20 am

      @Emily Martinin that sense surely we are all privileged then? None of us faces all possible barriers.

    • Jacob

      August 7, 2023 at 7:34 pm

      @Mike T Yes everyone is privileged in some capacity, this is what people don’t understand, everyone knows what privilege actually is and that everyone has it however media and other sources only portray it as a negative, if there’s one piece of advice I could give anyone it’s remember not everything is inherently negative or positive, it can be neutral. For example I am privileged to have a strong passport whilst someone from perhaps China could be privileged to speak Mandarin as a native language ect, ect.

    • Emily Martin

      August 8, 2023 at 4:43 am

      @Mike T exactly! And we all face some barriers, so we can all find common ground in that experience, even though the specifics might be different.

  34. Mkj M

    August 7, 2023 at 7:21 am

    This video is absolutely moving. When I was a kid I wanted to become a writer but for people where I’m from it’s just a pipe dream. My people are more accustomed to leading a life in medical and science because that’s where the money is at. Right now I’m a dentist. I could not say that I despise it. I have come to love the job. But every now and then I think of my younger self aspiring to be a writer. I always wonder what my life could have looked like if I pursued this dream. That curiosity has never left me.

    • Sonia Alam

      August 7, 2023 at 5:26 pm

      Oh my goodness, I’m a dentist / writer too! And with a very similar back story! Good luck friend 💚

  35. Debashis Hui

    August 7, 2023 at 11:54 am

    Is anyone else thought he is Christopher Nolan after seeing the thumbnail? 😀

  36. jiri der Koch

    August 7, 2023 at 10:03 pm

    sorry”!?

  37. Darin Singleton

    August 8, 2023 at 3:27 am

    Here, in the States, despite all of the preening & posturing, we live in a society which gleefully segregates human beings into “The Deserving” & “The Disposable.”

    We are about to begin a full throttle campaigning season – which never truly ends – where only the voices of an insular, anesthetized, complacent elite will truly matter.
    And, the hopes of struggling families across the nation will be dismissed, ignored, and even ridiculed.  
    Here’s to all those who remain so dedicated to ensuring that “Nothing Fundamentally Changes.”

  38. Jessie Huang

    August 9, 2023 at 2:28 pm

    incredibly touching

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