I am crying. Weeping. I am from a working class background and found that it is not too supportive of the arts. Doesn't feel like something that is achievable. A pipe dream. I eventually defied my background and took charge but even then I have a sense of defeatistism about it. Tried my hand at many things and settled on being a scriptwriter. I often feel like my background means I won't be taken seriously or that I won't get jobs. To hear about people who have gone through a poor background and have actually done it. Literally means the world. It has touched me in a way I find it hard to express. I was told my whole life that I couldn't do it and this makes me feel less alone. Michael Sheen really is an angel.
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.
Pursue it if you can! It’s never too late. My friend has been working as an IT consultant for over ten years and she’s just finished writing her first novel.
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.
"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)
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.🥰
Coming from a working class background, and now following my dream of being a writer - I appreciate this message. I wouldn’t even be this far, if it weren’t for a number of people who provided a hand up throughout my life🙏🏼
"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)
Michael Sheen is my favourite actor. Not only is he so incredibly talented, you can tell he's not afraid to portray so many different characters. He truly cares about others and isn't afraid of being himself. I hope to be like him when I grow up❤️
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.
"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)
I was just thinking about this yesterday. What I was going to be when I grow up. I love Micheal Sheen. I learned about him through Good Omens, and I just love David Tennant and Micheal Sheen. They are not bound by expectations or labels. They don’t care. They have self confidence. It’s amazing. I don’t know what I’m gonna do when I grow up. I’m 14 right now, and I have had experiences in art. I know I want my stories to be known. I know I’ve not had a simple life. And no matter what I do, I guess, just my final wish is to get my stories to be told, so that for people like me.. who were struggling through what I was struggling through.. maybe I can help them. Talk to them. Tell them what I wished someone told me.
I know Micheal Sheen for his work in Hollywood. My belief is that he is an astonish actor, a chameleon. I really love his performances and today i found out that he is also a real passionate supporter of the arts in his country. His speech says the truth and not just for UK or Wales but for every country that stopped to believe in the future of their kids as artists. We would need more people like him.
A massive thank you to Michael Sheen for using his position to help people realize their dreams. It's such a pity that so many avenues have been shut down so the work being done now is so valuable. Lovely to see Michael's passion and commitment to such a worthy cause.
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
"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)
I cannot emphasize enough how vital it is that people of influence understand the systemic issues that perpetuate inequality. Good on Michael. It is an astounding journey for him to come full circle. He has done the work, he acknowledges the issues, he advocates for and funds change. This. This is a good man.
As others have said … this is the BEST TED TALK I have watched. He is so well spoken and paints the scene of his world and upbringing so well. I wish there were more role models and motivated people like him to encourage people. At the same time, it’s not always possible (for many reasons) to achieve your dreams in life. But trying to is the way people learn what’s possible, even if it isn’t their original dream. This TED Talk should be shown to young children in school and to their parents!
I discovered Michael Sheen quite recently and never realized how much of his presence was there while i was growing up as Lucian, in Tinkerbell, in Twilight, in Wilde. So much of this talk feels like a hug now and it's beautiful to watch him support Arts, and be able to talk about it.
One of the most empowering things a parent or mentor can do when you have a child with talent and enthusiasm is to find opportunities for them to learn and practice. Amateur groups, summer camps, bringing them places where they can see people who are doing what they want to, etc. -- if you don't have money for it, apply for scholarships. Community programs are so important, especially in the US where the arts are routinely the first budget item on the chopping block. Even if that child grows up to do something completely different, your efforts won't have been wasted. Giving them the idea that they can do what they are dreaming about AND that they have pathways is the true gift.
I never thought that I would be able to get into the creative industry but this talk gives me hope. Hearing that a guy from my local town, Ulverston, has made it through A Writing Chance is amazing.
It is so important to see people like you succeeding out in the world. I had my "Richard Burton moment" with the actor Jon Hamm, whos from my home state. I'm from a small city in Missouri where everyone who is born there pretty much lives there their whole lives. But seeing him, go out into the world and be successful in the film industry, a industry I want to be apart of, is so important. Seeing women, plus size people, people from the middle of nowhere, queer people, out there, being successful, is so, so important, especially when your me and that is your world, telling you that this is possible, its life changing. I know the experiences I have that make that dream more achievable, teachers who want to see me succeed, friends and family who are supportive, but those things can mean next to nothing if theres no one out there doing it for you to look at and go "I can do that too." Find your "Richard Burton Moment", find people like you doing what you want to do. It is possible. It just takes a little searching.
I’ve loved Michael since I saw him in Mary Reilly in 2006. It’s a slow, kind of dreadful movie but he was this captivating spark in it. Since then I’ve absorbed his entire filmography and my life has been enriched by this incredibly talented, intelligent, loving, man. I’m so happy for all his success and happiness in family and career.
Gad im in tears now. As a children's writer who lost confidence after a measure of success, feeling alien to all that Id treasured in the gift, bewildered, perplexed. Martin's project is so brilliant, so heartwarming and hopeful. We all need hope, even though hope hurts too.
This video is everything to me right now. I’ve thought about writing about my experiences in the past but talked myself out of it for various reasons. The way that Michael talks about how important it is to hear voices from different backgrounds absolutely inspired me and I started writing. I don’t know if the end product will turn into anything, but the creative process itself is incredibly valuable to me. Thank you, Michael, for caring and for using your voice for good.
the more I learn about Michael Sheen, the more I absolutely love him. And please know that this is not some crush, I mean I love the fact that he is using his platform to really talk about a subject which is so close to my heart. We need more people like him.
What a great gift you are Michael Sheen!!!!! My Dad was born in a very small town in Serbia in 1908.....one of 7 children. He learned to play both the guitar and something approximating pan pipes from the gypsy community exterminated by the inevitable nazis etc. His father traded horses and had a vinyard sp who cares this did not prevent him from obtaining several degrees that Stephen Fry would appreciate and he's been gone a long time but always celebrated and loved. He knew that when Tito died that fragmented country would fall apart disastrouly. Le mystere des voix bulgaire reminds me uncallilly of your roots which gives me hope for the human race.
Thank you, Michael, for your words, for your projects, for your pathway, for everything... Thank you, TED, for this talk. Some of us out here in the world really need to be assured that we can be astronauts of words.
This is such a powerful message! Michael Sheen is speaking about creative jobs, but this applies to so many other fields. If children don’t have support in their communities to learn and see themselves in a variety of careers, they think they can’t do it. Representation and support matters in every field.
This is an incredibaly moving speech from Michael Sheen. It takes a great soul to recognize the presence of luck in one's own career. He not only done that, but also put words into actions and provides invaluable opportunities to those under-represented to diversify the voices we can hear. Great admiration!
What an amazing man. I was in tears at the end. Lots of people say they want to make a difference but he has done so much to walk the walk. He is definitely someone I look up to as an example.
michael sheen...god bless... i first saw him in wilde, with stephen fry and jude law, and i have been a fan ever since.. he is a beautiful human being and i could listen to him talk for hours and hours.. brilliant actor with a lot of skill, and most importantly, passion. you can practically feel it coming out of him whenever he is talking. his performance as Aziraphale is brilliant, he is great on stage as well... love him!
Wow, I want to read all the works he cited, sounds very interesting. Michael is such supportive person, he's often encouraging Good Omens fans to write fanfiction as well (this practice annoys many actors out there). Literature, amateur or not, has an incredible power to move us.
Thank you, Michael, for highlighting the fact that it takes enormous support and opportunity for children to embrace their best selves. In an era of austerity, the loss we'll all experience through the years from people who haven't been able to become what they could/ should be, will be huge. And this is true globally as well. We need the best of everything to rise up and create a better world.
Such a moving and seriously relevant TED talk about the disparities in accessibility to the important arts pathways for youth. We do need to change our worldwide views by hearing new voices and allowing their stories to be heard and seen and read with mentors and financial support. How beautiful to be able to start a conversation and then turn this into creating these early experiences and pathways for youngsters to express their joyful creativity through storytelling. Bravo❣️❣️❣️Thank you Michael Sheen for inspiring us to pay attention to our young people’s voices and creative abilities.❤
Thank you so much for recognizing how mentorship and opportunity affect our lives and careers. Props to you for finding ways to extending a ladder for others to climb. Your performances and your humanity are inspiring.
Wow. I was in tears. This is a really moving video. Bless him for helping people fulfill their dreams when they thought it was too late for them. It gives me hope. ❤ I wonder though how do you become part of his program when you aren’t in the UK?
This made me cry. Such beautiful stories. Ones that I resonate with strongly. And Michael's points are very compelling. I'm thrilled to think that at least they have such a program in the UK. Wish there was something like that where I am in the US. (Although that in itself is an absolute pipe-dream seeing as it's notoriously inhospitable towards the arts, period.) I wonder if I will ever realize that dream. It occupies my mind every day. As Michael puts it, especially for somebody in their 20's and on, it's pretty much too late. I want to try to start again - buying the gear, doing *something* - but it really does seem like once you hit your 30's everyone abandons you and deems it a lost cause that you haven't been able to make it up to that point. Even worse, they take your failure as their justification that they're right, after of course not supporting you or helping you at all for the past 20+ years. I love it. - /sarcasm, obviously
I am so glad that there’s someone recognising that the possibilities are disappearing for the creative youth. Theatre groups in my town started disappearing one by one, there was no funding for theatre groups at schools, we didn’t even have a building to do theatre anymore. I fought through many disappearing small groups, through a casting I got into the nearest national theatre in germany (Weimar) where I travelled to and back by train 2 hours every day just to be in some theatre project that allowed a group of 10 young amateurs to work there. That was when I was 17 and I don’t think I‘ll ever get further, that was my peak and that’s already unbelievably much for other people with the same dream, but I‘d really wish I could somehow make that my profession but that’s pretty much impossible and I am hopeless but Michael sheen recognising that the creative youth from the working class can rarely get far, comforts me a bit
What an amazing, inspirational person is Michael Sheen. Would love to be able to work alongside him with the marginalised in Port Talbot which is just a stone throw way from my home village near Neath.
Yes! Thank you Michael Sheen and TED for this beautiful thoughtful piece of art and social justice awareness! 💙🙏🏽 The arts of all kinds are a lifeline for people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly those who have been marginalized by society.
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."
Thank you so much Michael Sheen this was a wonderful and moving lecture, I love your work in Masters and as Az who will always and forever have a special place in my Black heart as the book keeper Angel
What an amazingly inspiring talk! I’m so pleased there are people like him who will try to inspire and encourage those of us who would not otherwise have the opportunities and support to pursue the arts.
What a beautiful thing! I loved Michael Sheen experience about creativite life is with a big sense of colletivity. I living in Brazil, at a peripheric state, I have nephews, and I'm always concern these themes you talk about critical and sensitive education. I intend to include this TED in my newsletters in this week. Thank you so much, dear!
I hope this project gets to a global scale one day so that creative writing talent from countries that typically don't have the right opportunities and platforms to influence the industry.
i am so incredibly grateful that i have had so much support in my journey to have a career in the arts. in highschool, my parents, school administrators, school teachers, and friends all had so much faith in me and pushed me to continue to do what i love. it's been nervewracking, because i am from working class and the temptation to take the easy route of making sure i have an income is so strong because i know what financial insecurity feels like. alas, i auditioned for berklee college of music my senior year of high school and got in with a scholarship, and now i'm going into my second year. it can be a little isolating sometimes because i am literally the only transmasculine drummer i know. but knowing that i'm blazing the trail for many transmasc drummers to come keeps me going. loved the part about representation because hes so so right about that. michaels story reminds me much of my own so i thought id share. thank you for reading if you did!
Being so late in my schooling in breaks my heart that I never had these opportunities. I did a VERY short play (around 15 minutes) in primary school of frankenstein, was on stage for about 2 minutes (maybe less) and that was that. I had around a month to do it and never got it again as drama is usually less regarded in schools (especially australian) and no one really cared for it. My high-school NEVER had a drama department which will always confuse me, most likely not enough funding. I moved to online and I have had the chance to do a little once a week course here and these but now I'm going into outside drama courses after the lockdown with immense social anxiety and I tear up everytime someone tells me they've been doing this since they were little. It always makes me second guess if it's really worth it.
This is the story of so many people born in Wales; famous, infamous or just plain unsung. But also with people like Sean Connery in Edinburgh, and Michael Caine in London. Sheeny is talking about an experience very similar to my own; and I suppose I am the sort of person who probably should have done something creative, but never really got around to it. My roadblock was nothing to do with family background, but happened because nowhere I lived ever really became home. And there have been so many places. So no community network to fall back on. Yes, I do work creatively, on things that seem personally important, but it is never really shared with the rest of the World. Truth be told, my creations are mostly uninteresting to other more contemporary people, and I am no longer interested in attempting to entertain people who seem to want to live on a 24/7 reality tv set. The modern day, monetarist-led lifestyle is about as phoney as it gets, and mostly rather toxic.
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.
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?
i really did feel so seen. im studying law bc that's what my parents want for me and each path ahead of me sounds like an unhappy one. i wish had had any opportunity bc it has been too hard to try and creat one myself
Thank you Michael. We need more voices saying this but I am not sure that this government has any concept of the reality of a real life. It’s money, money, money! Maths until you are 18, what a load of rubbish. We have so many talented youngsters who have no support.
I’ve never so much as heard my accent on stage or in movies or tv shows. Maybe one day I’ll get to be the person someone else from Stoke on Trent can hear themselves in. I hope I get the opportunity. :) There wasn’t a pathway available for me. I’m 27 and it still feels like a huge battle to even get auditions.
In the words of The Doctor "A very wise man once said, It's Never Too Late" (literally The Doctor, Tennant, referencing himself through time). -- The Doctor. You change and give opportunity through the optics and logistics of provided education FREELY and UNIVERSALLY that is how. And without limit. You provide each person with the same tools necessary to succeed. There is a difference between vincible and invincible ignorance. One is a chosen ignorance and one is immutable. Take away the blinders and the boundaries of walls for those who desire to learn and to achieve and anything is possible.
Good Lord, that man is so pleasant and sweet and I'm so glad he's doing this! It would be nice if that kind of thing really were available to *everyone*. What did he call it? An accident of birth and geography? Yep. Here in America, your wealth can be predicted more by your zip code (where you were born) than any other factor.
Yep. And just the accident of even being born in the US. Some here think that makes us better than others... but it was an accident of birth and geography... nothing more.
He makes a good point. Take the smallest ‘yes or no’ answer and you would still be telling a story. If a generation or a population, loses the ability to express itself along with how to write it cursively, it’s almost as bad as not being able to read at all. Perhaps, if the arts were better respected, storytelling could be recognized for what it is, an essential life skill. Dealing with people who can’t make themselves understood is counterproductive and a danger to all of society. How many catastrophes have happened because of a miscommunication?
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.
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I am crying. Weeping. I am from a working class background and found that it is not too supportive of the arts. Doesn't feel like something that is achievable. A pipe dream. I eventually defied my background and took charge but even then I have a sense of defeatistism about it. Tried my hand at many things and settled on being a scriptwriter. I often feel like my background means I won't be taken seriously or that I won't get jobs. To hear about people who have gone through a poor background and have actually done it. Literally means the world. It has touched me in a way I find it hard to express. I was told my whole life that I couldn't do it and this makes me feel less alone. Michael Sheen really is an angel.
Best of luck darling.
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.
Oh my goodness, I’m a dentist / writer too! And with a very similar back story! Good luck friend 💚
This is beautiful, pursue it ❤
Pursue it if you can! It’s never too late. My friend has been working as an IT consultant for over ten years and she’s just finished writing her first novel.
You should just start writing… so many of the greats had a story exactly like yours, day job and all…
It is never too late. Until you’re dead.
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.
"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)
In case someone has doubts, Michael Sheen just proved here that he is truly an Angel ❤️
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.🥰
Coming from a working class background, and now following my dream of being a writer - I appreciate this message. I wouldn’t even be this far, if it weren’t for a number of people who provided a hand up throughout my life🙏🏼
"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)
14:37
Michael Sheen is my favourite actor. Not only is he so incredibly talented, you can tell he's not afraid to portray so many different characters. He truly cares about others and isn't afraid of being himself. I hope to be like him when I grow up❤️
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.
"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)
I was just thinking about this yesterday. What I was going to be when I grow up. I love Micheal Sheen. I learned about him through Good Omens, and I just love David Tennant and Micheal Sheen. They are not bound by expectations or labels. They don’t care. They have self confidence. It’s amazing. I don’t know what I’m gonna do when I grow up. I’m 14 right now, and I have had experiences in art. I know I want my stories to be known. I know I’ve not had a simple life. And no matter what I do, I guess, just my final wish is to get my stories to be told, so that for people like me.. who were struggling through what I was struggling through.. maybe I can help them. Talk to them. Tell them what I wished someone told me.
I know Micheal Sheen for his work in Hollywood. My belief is that he is an astonish actor, a chameleon. I really love his performances and today i found out that he is also a real passionate supporter of the arts in his country. His speech says the truth and not just for UK or Wales but for every country that stopped to believe in the future of their kids as artists. We would need more people like him.
A massive thank you to Michael Sheen for using his position to help people realize their dreams. It's such a pity that so many avenues have been shut down so the work being done now is so valuable. Lovely to see Michael's passion and commitment to such a worthy cause.
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
"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)
I cannot emphasize enough how vital it is that people of influence understand the systemic issues that perpetuate inequality. Good on Michael. It is an astounding journey for him to come full circle. He has done the work, he acknowledges the issues, he advocates for and funds change. This. This is a good man.
Agree. I really admire him as a person. As well as a talented actor he’s very inspiring and authentic and charitable.
As others have said … this is the BEST TED TALK I have watched. He is so well spoken and paints the scene of his world and upbringing so well. I wish there were more role models and motivated people like him to encourage people. At the same time, it’s not always possible (for many reasons) to achieve your dreams in life. But trying to is the way people learn what’s possible, even if it isn’t their original dream. This TED Talk should be shown to young children in school and to their parents!
I discovered Michael Sheen quite recently and never realized how much of his presence was there while i was growing up as Lucian, in Tinkerbell, in Twilight, in Wilde. So much of this talk feels like a hug now and it's beautiful to watch him support Arts, and be able to talk about it.
He’s just awesome
One of the most empowering things a parent or mentor can do when you have a child with talent and enthusiasm is to find opportunities for them to learn and practice. Amateur groups, summer camps, bringing them places where they can see people who are doing what they want to, etc. -- if you don't have money for it, apply for scholarships. Community programs are so important, especially in the US where the arts are routinely the first budget item on the chopping block.
Even if that child grows up to do something completely different, your efforts won't have been wasted. Giving them the idea that they can do what they are dreaming about AND that they have pathways is the true gift.
I never thought that I would be able to get into the creative industry but this talk gives me hope. Hearing that a guy from my local town, Ulverston, has made it through A Writing Chance is amazing.
Michael deserves anything, as an actor, and as a man as well. I love him. We all love him.
He’s the man we all need right now and we’re gonna need some inspiring leaders like him in l a few years when some of the older ones go!!
I love this man so muchh!!! God Blesss!!! Watch Good Omens everyone!!
It is so important to see people like you succeeding out in the world. I had my "Richard Burton moment" with the actor Jon Hamm, whos from my home state. I'm from a small city in Missouri where everyone who is born there pretty much lives there their whole lives. But seeing him, go out into the world and be successful in the film industry, a industry I want to be apart of, is so important. Seeing women, plus size people, people from the middle of nowhere, queer people, out there, being successful, is so, so important, especially when your me and that is your world, telling you that this is possible, its life changing. I know the experiences I have that make that dream more achievable, teachers who want to see me succeed, friends and family who are supportive, but those things can mean next to nothing if theres no one out there doing it for you to look at and go "I can do that too." Find your "Richard Burton Moment", find people like you doing what you want to do. It is possible. It just takes a little searching.
I’ve loved Michael since I saw him in Mary Reilly in 2006. It’s a slow, kind of dreadful movie but he was this captivating spark in it. Since then I’ve absorbed his entire filmography and my life has been enriched by this incredibly talented, intelligent, loving, man. I’m so happy for all his success and happiness in family and career.
Gad im in tears now. As a children's writer who lost confidence after a measure of success, feeling alien to all that Id treasured in the gift, bewildered, perplexed. Martin's project is so brilliant, so heartwarming and hopeful. We all need hope, even though hope hurts too.
This video is everything to me right now. I’ve thought about writing about my experiences in the past but talked myself out of it for various reasons. The way that Michael talks about how important it is to hear voices from different backgrounds absolutely inspired me and I started writing. I don’t know if the end product will turn into anything, but the creative process itself is incredibly valuable to me. Thank you, Michael, for caring and for using your voice for good.
the more I learn about Michael Sheen, the more I absolutely love him.
And please know that this is not some crush, I mean I love the fact that he is using his platform to really talk about a subject which is so close to my heart.
We need more people like him.
What a great gift you are Michael Sheen!!!!! My Dad was born in a very small town in Serbia in 1908.....one of 7 children. He learned to play both the guitar and something approximating pan pipes from the gypsy community exterminated by the inevitable nazis etc. His father traded horses and had a vinyard sp who cares this did not prevent him from obtaining several degrees that Stephen Fry would appreciate and he's been gone a long time but always celebrated and loved. He knew that when Tito died that fragmented country would fall apart disastrouly. Le mystere des voix bulgaire reminds me uncallilly of your roots which gives me hope for the human race.
Thank you, Michael, for your words, for your projects, for your pathway, for everything...
Thank you, TED, for this talk. Some of us out here in the world really need to be assured that we can be astronauts of words.
This is such a powerful message! Michael Sheen is speaking about creative jobs, but this applies to so many other fields. If children don’t have support in their communities to learn and see themselves in a variety of careers, they think they can’t do it. Representation and support matters in every field.
Michael is such a gem ❤
Wish there were programmes like this where I'm from!
what an inspiring voice Michael has. I think what he does is amazing and extremely important for arts and storytelling
The stars have aligned: aTED Talk and Michael Sheen…❤
This is an incredibaly moving speech from Michael Sheen. It takes a great soul to recognize the presence of luck in one's own career. He not only done that, but also put words into actions and provides invaluable opportunities to those under-represented to diversify the voices we can hear. Great admiration!
What an incredible story! My grandmother grew up in Port Talbit and I can still smell the air! I love hearing Michael talk, he's such a gem.
What an amazing man. I was in tears at the end. Lots of people say they want to make a difference but he has done so much to walk the walk. He is definitely someone I look up to as an example.
michael sheen...god bless... i first saw him in wilde, with stephen fry and jude law, and i have been a fan ever since.. he is a beautiful human being and i could listen to him talk for hours and hours.. brilliant actor with a lot of skill, and most importantly, passion. you can practically feel it coming out of him whenever he is talking. his performance as Aziraphale is brilliant, he is great on stage as well... love him!
I am so moved and inspired by Michael Sheen’s work.
Wow, I want to read all the works he cited, sounds very interesting.
Michael is such supportive person, he's often encouraging Good Omens fans to write fanfiction as well (this practice annoys many actors out there).
Literature, amateur or not, has an incredible power to move us.
Thank you, Michael, for highlighting the fact that it takes enormous support and opportunity for children to embrace their best selves. In an era of austerity, the loss we'll all experience through the years from people who haven't been able to become what they could/ should be, will be huge. And this is true globally as well. We need the best of everything to rise up and create a better world.
A 'Master'ful storyteller himself (punintended), it is so refreshing to see a creative giant paying it forward with this brilliant programme ❤
That is an incredibly uplifting story. It should be heard by all children. Thank you for telling it. Three kisses.
I’m only 14 but acting is my main dream and I’m so scared that I’ll never be able to do that.
Such a moving and seriously relevant TED talk about the disparities in accessibility to the important arts pathways for youth. We do need to change our worldwide views by hearing new voices and allowing their stories to be heard and seen and read with mentors and financial support. How beautiful to be able to start a conversation and then turn this into creating these early experiences and pathways for youngsters to express their joyful creativity through storytelling. Bravo❣️❣️❣️Thank you Michael Sheen for inspiring us to pay attention to our young people’s voices and creative abilities.❤
Thank you so much for recognizing how mentorship and opportunity affect our lives and careers. Props to you for finding ways to extending a ladder for others to climb. Your performances and your humanity are inspiring.
Wow. I was in tears. This is a really moving video. Bless him for helping people fulfill their dreams when they thought it was too late for them. It gives me hope. ❤ I wonder though how do you become part of his program when you aren’t in the UK?
This made me cry. Such beautiful stories. Ones that I resonate with strongly. And Michael's points are very compelling.
I'm thrilled to think that at least they have such a program in the UK. Wish there was something like that where I am in the US. (Although that in itself is an absolute pipe-dream seeing as it's notoriously inhospitable towards the arts, period.)
I wonder if I will ever realize that dream. It occupies my mind every day. As Michael puts it, especially for somebody in their 20's and on, it's pretty much too late.
I want to try to start again - buying the gear, doing *something* - but it really does seem like once you hit your 30's everyone abandons you and deems it a lost cause that you haven't been able to make it up to that point. Even worse, they take your failure as their justification that they're right, after of course not supporting you or helping you at all for the past 20+ years. I love it. - /sarcasm, obviously
I am so glad that there’s someone recognising that the possibilities are disappearing for the creative youth. Theatre groups in my town started disappearing one by one, there was no funding for theatre groups at schools, we didn’t even have a building to do theatre anymore. I fought through many disappearing small groups, through a casting I got into the nearest national theatre in germany (Weimar) where I travelled to and back by train 2 hours every day just to be in some theatre project that allowed a group of 10 young amateurs to work there. That was when I was 17 and I don’t think I‘ll ever get further, that was my peak and that’s already unbelievably much for other people with the same dream, but I‘d really wish I could somehow make that my profession but that’s pretty much impossible and I am hopeless but Michael sheen recognising that the creative youth from the working class can rarely get far, comforts me a bit
What an amazing, inspirational person is Michael Sheen. Would love to be able to work alongside him with the marginalised in Port Talbot which is just a stone throw way from my home village near Neath.
People like Michael Sheen give me hope for mankind.
What a lovely man. And a great project.
This is absolutely fantastic. Also, it made me angry about my own childhood in a way that I've never quite experienced before. Very moving.
Wonderful message. Saved it as it's incredibly inspiring.
Also, his voice is genuinely wonderful.
Yes! Thank you Michael Sheen and TED for this beautiful thoughtful piece of art and social justice awareness! 💙🙏🏽
The arts of all kinds are a lifeline for people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly those who have been marginalized by society.
What an amazing soul and mensch, ultimately the best life lived is in helping others to make the world a brighter place.
Lovely, clear, impassioned exposition.
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."
Two things I’ve always wanted to be: a writer and an astronaut!
Thank you so much Michael Sheen this was a wonderful and moving lecture, I love your work in Masters and as Az who will always and forever have a special place in my Black heart as the book keeper Angel
What an amazingly inspiring talk! I’m so pleased there are people like him who will try to inspire and encourage those of us who would not otherwise have the opportunities and support to pursue the arts.
What a beautiful thing! I loved Michael Sheen experience about creativite life is with a big sense of colletivity. I living in Brazil, at a peripheric state, I have nephews, and I'm always concern these themes you talk about critical and sensitive education. I intend to include this TED in my newsletters in this week. Thank you so much, dear!
He brought Brian Clough back to life ~ We'll always be thankful for that!!
I hope this project gets to a global scale one day so that creative writing talent from countries that typically don't have the right opportunities and platforms to influence the industry.
This man is such a lovely human being👏
Thanx to the blue curtain in the background, which put a gentle accent on the eyes of a wonderful person during this great monologue.💙🤲☄️
i am so incredibly grateful that i have had so much support in my journey to have a career in the arts. in highschool, my parents, school administrators, school teachers, and friends all had so much faith in me and pushed me to continue to do what i love. it's been nervewracking, because i am from working class and the temptation to take the easy route of making sure i have an income is so strong because i know what financial insecurity feels like. alas, i auditioned for berklee college of music my senior year of high school and got in with a scholarship, and now i'm going into my second year. it can be a little isolating sometimes because i am literally the only transmasculine drummer i know. but knowing that i'm blazing the trail for many transmasc drummers to come keeps me going. loved the part about representation because hes so so right about that. michaels story reminds me much of my own so i thought id share. thank you for reading if you did!
So happy for you. Good luck on your journey :)
What a lovely man.
Richard Burton ❤
Anthony Hopkins ❤
Michael Sheen ❤
Wales did GOOD ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
MS picks some of the best creative productions. He’s in so many of my favorite films. He’s amazing.❤
This guy's sound is so good.
Now that's a Talk worth listening.
OMG - the Anthony Hopkins/RIchard Burton story made me well up🥲❣
This is incredibly moving
If we let the free education systems fall, we fall. Working class people should be fighting fiercely for it. Thanks Michael Sheen for reminding us.
incredibly touching
I Really love this man and the story is wonderful ❤️
Moving, touching and very important messages!!!! ❤
Play it forward! Love this. Thank you and Namaste.
I love Micheal sheen ❤
Being so late in my schooling in breaks my heart that I never had these opportunities. I did a VERY short play (around 15 minutes) in primary school of frankenstein, was on stage for about 2 minutes (maybe less) and that was that. I had around a month to do it and never got it again as drama is usually less regarded in schools (especially australian) and no one really cared for it. My high-school NEVER had a drama department which will always confuse me, most likely not enough funding. I moved to online and I have had the chance to do a little once a week course here and these but now I'm going into outside drama courses after the lockdown with immense social anxiety and I tear up everytime someone tells me they've been doing this since they were little. It always makes me second guess if it's really worth it.
This is the story of so many people born in Wales; famous, infamous or just plain unsung. But also with people like Sean Connery in Edinburgh, and Michael Caine in London. Sheeny is talking about an experience very similar to my own; and I suppose I am the sort of person who probably should have done something creative, but never really got around to it. My roadblock was nothing to do with family background, but happened because nowhere I lived ever really became home. And there have been so many places. So no community network to fall back on. Yes, I do work creatively, on things that seem personally important, but it is never really shared with the rest of the World. Truth be told, my creations are mostly uninteresting to other more contemporary people, and I am no longer interested in attempting to entertain people who seem to want to live on a 24/7 reality tv set. The modern day, monetarist-led lifestyle is about as phoney as it gets, and mostly rather toxic.
I will never be an actress. There was never a yellow brick road for me. This video helps trying to accept that. Thank you Michael
Great share. Also shows you how important arts are in a school platform.
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.
Fine actor with a good heart. 😊
Beautifully expressed
I love this man
This is brilliant ❤
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?
What an absolute babe
I had no idea that Michael Sheen was Welsh… I’d never thought to look up his background information before. I remember him as Tony Blair in the Queen.
i really did feel so seen. im studying law bc that's what my parents want for me and each path ahead of me sounds like an unhappy one. i wish had had any opportunity bc it has been too hard to try and creat one myself
Thank you Michael. We need more voices saying this but I am not sure that this government has any concept of the reality of a real life. It’s money, money, money! Maths until you are 18, what a load of rubbish. We have so many talented youngsters who have no support.
I wish I could like a video twice.
Just this one time
I’ve never so much as heard my accent on stage or in movies or tv shows. Maybe one day I’ll get to be the person someone else from Stoke on Trent can hear themselves in. I hope I get the opportunity. :)
There wasn’t a pathway available for me. I’m 27 and it still feels like a huge battle to even get auditions.
We need more astronauts. Great message.
In the words of The Doctor "A very wise man once said, It's Never Too Late" (literally The Doctor, Tennant, referencing himself through time). -- The Doctor. You change and give opportunity through the optics and logistics of provided education FREELY and UNIVERSALLY that is how. And without limit. You provide each person with the same tools necessary to succeed. There is a difference between vincible and invincible ignorance. One is a chosen ignorance and one is immutable. Take away the blinders and the boundaries of walls for those who desire to learn and to achieve and anything is possible.
Good Lord, that man is so pleasant and sweet and I'm so glad he's doing this! It would be nice if that kind of thing really were available to *everyone*.
What did he call it? An accident of birth and geography? Yep. Here in America, your wealth can be predicted more by your zip code (where you were born) than any other factor.
Yep. And just the accident of even being born in the US. Some here think that makes us better than others... but it was an accident of birth and geography... nothing more.
I love this so much! ❤😊
He makes a good point. Take the smallest ‘yes or no’ answer and you would still be telling a story. If a generation or a population, loses the ability to express itself along with how to write it cursively, it’s almost as bad as not being able to read at all. Perhaps, if the arts were better respected, storytelling could be recognized for what it is, an essential life skill. Dealing with people who can’t make themselves understood is counterproductive and a danger to all of society. How many catastrophes have happened because of a miscommunication?
Chills.
Brilliant idea, fair play
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.