It might surprise those who know Michael Sheen from his portrayals of Tony Blair in the Peter Morgan-scripted "The Deal" and "The Queen" to see the 39-year-old actor looking downright rugged in his suit, long hair and scruffy beard. Having just flown in from London, where he learned the British Independent Film Awards would honor him with the Variety Award for "bringing global recognition to the British film industry," he sat down at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills to discuss his current collaboration with Morgan, "Frost/Nixon," opening Dec. 5 (the original broadcast of the Nixon interview will be out on DVD that week as well). In Ron Howard's film, Sheen and Frank Langella reprise their acclaimed stage roles as British interviewer David Frost and President Nixon, respectively, as the heretofore lightweight TV personality finds himself in a battle of wills with the disgraced politician on and off camera.
Wanting answers
Eight weeks -- that's how long Michael Sheen thought he would play David Frost. Was he wrong.
CONTENDER Q&A
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How excited were you when Peter Morgan said, "I want to do a whole play about David Frost -- played by you -- conducting a sit-down television interview"?
I have to say I was very underwhelmed. It was really early in the shoot for "The Queen." I read ["Frost"] and I thought, "Oh, God, another thing written by Peter Morgan where I don't get the best part." Then I thought, "It'll only be eight weeks, I'll do it as a favor to Peter." Little knowing, two years later, I'd still be doing it, it's been such a success. It just goes to show, never ask me if anything's going to be a hit or not.
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You were about 3 years old when the Watergate scandal broke. How closely was this followed in Britain?
I was 8 when the interviews aired, so it wasn't high on my list of things to watch. But obviously people in Britain are very aware of what goes on in America politically because it has a huge influence on what happens in Britain and in the world. But it's interesting, reactions to the film in Britain -- people don't have the same emotional relationship to those events and that man as they do in America, obviously. People get very, very emotional about it here, and understandably so.
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The film works on many levels, not the least of which being an acting duel between you and Frank Langella. It's set up like a prizefight and you're Rocky.
