BELOVED ACTOR MICHAEL SHEEN CLEARS DEBTS OF 900 PEOPLE WITH $1.3 MILLION OF HIS OWN MONEY
Welsh actor Michael Sheen—recognized for his performances in Good Omens, Twilight, and more recently, A Very Royal Scandal—has cleared £1 million (approximately $1.3 million) in debt for 900 individuals using his personal funds. He added £100,000 ($129,190) of his personal funds into establishing a debt acquisition firm, assisting individuals in South Wales, the area where he was raised. The remarkable generosity of Michael Sheen is central to the upcoming Channel 4 documentary, Secret Million Pound Giveaway, which will be broadcast in the UK on March 10, 2025.
Sheen’s documentary reveals how financial institutions and banks exploit vulnerable individuals stuck in a debt cycle. "The surprising aspect is that individuals are now relying on credit cards and overdrafts to cover basic needs and necessities, not luxuries or similar items. Therefore, the debt I acquired encompassed credit card debt, overdrafts, car financing, and such," he states. "You require assistance to navigate these challenging times." And individuals are falling into cycles of debt. Once you’re beneath the surface, it becomes quite difficult to escape. That’s the reason I aimed to do this—to highlight that this is happening, there are ways to change it, there are options, and we must strive to create a positive impact for others.”
Sheen admitted on BBC’s The One Show on March 4 that he was initially hesitant about spending the money, explaining that he doesn’t have £100,000 to “throw around” and wanted to ensure the project would make a real impact. However, his perspective shifted after a conversation in a Port Talbot café, where a woman told him about “steelworkers in tears.” That moment solidified his decision to move forward with his commitment to help.
Sheen doesn’t know the identity of the 900 people he helped—only the kind of debt they had. His efforts, focused on the Port Talbot area, come just five months after the closure of a blast furnace in Wales, which ended traditional steelmaking in the region and led to 2,800 job losses.
When Sheen initially looked into establishing a debt acquisition firm, he confessed he had "no clue" how the system functioned. While speaking on The One Show, he clarified that he managed to acquire £1 million in debt for only £100,000 due to its decline in value over time. Although the initial debt amount that individuals owe stays unchanged, the companies holding the debt can sell it for progressively lower prices. The procedure consists of aggregating several debts, which can subsequently be acquired by debt-buying firms at a reduced price compared to the original amount. Sheen referred to the system as “bizarre” but ultimately viewed it as a chance to create a significant impact.
This isn't the first occasion Sheen has utilized his money to assist those who are less fortunate. The self-identified “not-for-profit” performer has been contributing his income to social causes for many years. “I’ve come to understand over the past few years that I aspire to be one of those individuals who assist others in the manner that so many individuals assisted me,” he explains. “I don't want to just be someone who enjoys the fruits of what other people have done and then pull the drawbridge up and go, well I'm alright Jack, I've had a nice time.”