Sheen: Nurse’s mix-up led to me being called Michael

Michael Sheen has revealed he is only called Michael Sheen due to a nurse’s mix-up after he was born.

The Welsh actor, best known for Frost/Nixon, Underworld and Masters Of Sex, told the story on social media in response to a fan page post about his name.

He revealed his parents had initially called him Christopher, before he was taken into the care of nurses as his mother was ill following the birth.

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In a tweet, Sheen, 50, said: “Actually my parents named me Christopher but the nurses had to look after me the first week as my mum wasn’t well and they got my names mixed up on my tag so when I was collected my parents asked for Christopher and the nurses said … we have a Michael? So they went with it.”

He added that he discovered in recent years that his Irish ancestors had emigrated to Wales and kept naming their male children Michael, but the infants all died.

“They were clearly desperate to have a Michael Sheen but sadly they never managed it,” he wrote.

“Generations went by in our family and no Michaels emerged and their story was forgotten.

“Then one day, many, many years later a nurse got a name tag mixed up and unknowingly tricked whatever malevolent force was at work trying to stop a Michael Sheen emerge.

“So to that nurse, whoever you are, wherever you are, if you’re even still alive, on behalf of my long dead ancestors and their mysterious desire – thank you.”

(c) Sky News 2019: Sheen: Nurse’s mix-up led to me being called Michael