The Magic of a Creative Career | Michael Sheen | TED

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.

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.

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.🥰

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❤️

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.

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🙏🏼

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.

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.

I love this man so muchh!!! God Blesss!!! Watch Good Omens everyone!!

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.

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!

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

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.

The stars have aligned: aTED Talk and Michael Sheen…❤