Hollywood actor Michael Sheen has been spotted across North Wales in recent weeks, meeting fans, supporting local businesses and enjoying family time during his sold-out runs at Llandudno's Venue Cymru and Theatr Clwyd in Mold.
Sheen starred in a new Welsh adaptation of Our Town, which has now completed its Mold performances, having previously been at Llandudno, and now moves on to Kingston.
While in the region, residents reported seeing him at Chester Zoo with his family, dining at Bryn Williams at Porth Eirias, visiting The Beaufort pub, stopping at The Ice Cream Farm and spending time in Llandudno.
One woman from Carmarthenshire described him as “the greatest ambassador Wales could have”.
In Mold, Sheen surprised staff at Mold Bookshop, where he signed copies of his children’s book Spark The Dragon.
Posting online, the independent retailer said: “The lovely Michael Sheen… was kind enough to visit and sign some copies of his children’s book for us.”
Fans also had the chance to meet him after performances.
Wrexham resident Cat Williams described him as “an absolute delight”.
“When he passed us he asked if we had enjoyed the performance and said how great it was to hear we’d enjoyed it,” she said. “We were a bit star struck, he is an absolute legend and came across as a lovely, wonderful man.”
Penymynydd author Deborah Flitcroft also briefly met Sheen after the final Welsh performance, handing him a copy of her novel Finding a Miracle, in which he is mentioned.
“One of the characters talks about somebody being a good actor and they must have been trained by the likes of Michael Sheen,” she said.
“I didn’t get an awful lot of time with him, but at least I was able to give him a copy of the book. That was pretty cool really.”
The book was published in May 2024 and follows a woman in her 50s who uncovers a lifelong secret kept by her grandmother, leading to a road trip with friends as they piece together the mystery.
Deborah described the production as “amazing”, praising its minimal staging and strong Welsh identity.
Local representatives were equally complimentary.
Cllr Catherine Frances Claydon, who represents Mold South ward, described attending Our Town at Theatr Clwyd as a “brilliant evening” and said the production was “truly outstanding”.
“The acting across the board was powerful, heartfelt and deeply moving,” she said. “It’s a play that gently but profoundly reminds us to cherish the everyday moments, value our communities and never take the simple things in life for granted.”
She added that she was fortunate to meet Michael Sheen ahead of the performance, describing him as “incredibly pleasant and generous with his time”.
“We are so fortunate to have such high-quality productions on our doorstep, and it’s fantastic to see someone of Michael’s calibre performing here in Mold,” she said. “A proud night for our town and for Theatr Clwyd.”
Meanwhile, Carolyn Thomas MS met Sheen at the Senedd during an event ahead of his forthcoming documentary Buried.
After attending a performance of Tidy, she invited him to visit the Badger Group stall, where they spoke about wildlife and the environment.
“I spoke about how badgers are one of our oldest and iconic wildlife species and he said that he has badgers close to his home in Neath,” she said.
“He cares about people, the community and the environment.”
Originally written by Thornton Wilder, Our Town is a Pulitzer Prize-winning play exploring everyday life, love and loss in a small town. In this production, Sheen took on the central role of the Stage Manager, guiding audiences through reflections on community and appreciating life’s simple moments.
The show formed part of his work with Welsh National Theatre, which he launched to champion high-quality theatre across Wales.
For many across North Wales and beyond, his recent appearances were a reminder of the close connection between one of Wales’ most recognisable stars and the communities he continues to support.
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