Michael Sheen, UFOs, and a Million-Pound Miracle

Welsh actor Michael Sheen shares his real-life UFO encounter and reveals the incredible way he helped erase £1 million in debt for his hometown.

Michael Sheen has played everything from angels to vampires on screen — but some of the most fascinating stories connected to him are the ones from real life. One of the most surprising? His childhood brush with what he believes were UFOs.

The Welsh actor, known for roles in Good Omens, The Queen, and Frost/Nixon, recently opened up on the Scarred For Life podcast about an eerie encounter he had as a boy growing up in Port Talbot, Wales. He was just twelve years old when he saw something strange in the sky that he’s never been able to explain.

It started after a neighbor — someone Sheen described as practical and down-to-earth — told his parents she had seen UFOs. Not long afterward, Sheen had his own experience. He was walking home from school when he saw a strange series of lights moving along the mountain edge near his home. First one light, then two, then three more — all floating in a kind of formation, drifting from behind the mountain and out over the sea.

Frozen in place, Sheen considered running inside to tell his family. But he didn’t. Something told him that if he looked away, the lights might disappear. So he stayed and watched — and sure enough, after hovering over the ocean, the lights vanished into the night sky.

Years later, another mysterious sighting would bring the mystery even closer to home. On a New Year’s Eve about a decade ago, Sheen’s father saw something in the skies over Port Talbot that left him stunned. He had gone to the bedroom window hoping to catch some fireworks — but instead saw pulsating lights floating above the town. He was sure others must have seen it too. He expected to hear about it on the news the next day. But no one said a word. The lights, and whatever they were, remained a mystery.

Now living once again in his hometown, Sheen says he’s not the only one with a story like this. Other residents have also reported strange things in the sky. Whether it’s a coincidence or something more, Sheen believes “there’s something going on there.”

But while stories of UFOs are enough to turn heads, it’s Sheen’s real-world generosity that truly makes him remarkable.

In March, the Channel 4 documentary Secret Million Pound Giveaway revealed a stunning act of kindness from the actor. Using £100,000 of his own money, Sheen helped erase nearly £1 million in debt for more than 900 people in South Wales. He worked with the Financial Conduct Authority to buy up bad debt and cancel it, giving hundreds of families a fresh start.

Sheen describes himself as a “not-for-profit actor,” meaning he uses much of his income to support causes he believes in — especially those tied to community, fairness, and justice. He joined the documentary to shine a light on how banks and lenders often take advantage of people who are already struggling. His goal? To raise awareness and push for a fairer credit system for everyone.

Even though he’ll never know exactly who he helped — due to privacy rules — Sheen says that’s not the point. He didn’t do it for recognition. He did it because it was right. “It’s about making a difference and a point,” he explained.

So whether he’s spotting mysterious lights in the sky or shining a light on injustice here on Earth, Michael Sheen continues to surprise us — not just as an actor, but as a force for good in the real world.

(Source: The Standard | Cover Photo: Collider)