Michael Sheen has revealed that he has turned himself into a "not-for-profit actor" so he can help social causes he cares about.
Speaking to The Big Issue – a British street newspaper that exists to give homeless people an opportunity to earn an income by selling it – the actor likened himself to a "social enterprise."
Sheen told the publication that he sold both of his houses – one in the U.K., one in the U.S. – to bankroll the Homeless World Cup soccer tournament in 2019.
"I had committed to helping to organize that and then suddenly, with not long to go, there was no money. I had to make a decision – I could walk away from it, and it wouldn’t happen," the actor recalled. "And all those people from all around the world who were banking on coming to have this extraordinary experience, maybe a life-changing experience, wouldn’t have it. I thought, I’m not going to let that happen.
"So I put all my money into keeping it going," he continued. "I had a house in America and a house here and I put those up and just did whatever it took. It was scary and incredibly stressful. And I’ll be paying for it for a long time."
Sheen said the experience proved to be something of a revelation for him: he realized that as long as he keeps earning well, he can continue to put "large amounts of money" into projects he feels passionate about. "I’ve essentially turned myself into a social enterprise, a not-for-profit actor," he said.
The Welsh actor is already well known for putting his money where his mouth is in a figurative sense. Last year he revealed that he returned an OBE honor bestowed on him by Queen Elizabeth II so he could share his views on Wales's historical relationship with the British monarchy without feeling like a "hypocrite."
Do you respect Michael Sheen’s decision to become a "not-for-profit actor?"