Michael Sheen of David Frost in 2008's "Frost/Nixon", a film dramatisation of The Nixon Interviews of 1977. Despite appearing in the original stage production in a part written for him by Peter Morgan, Sheen was surprised to have been cast in the film: "Peter said he'd only be prepared to give the rights to someone who would cast me as Frost, which was very nice, but when the studios get their hands on something... Right up until we started filming I was prepared to be disappointed". Roger Ebert of the "Chicago Sun-Times" asserted that Sheen embodied his character in a "compelling, intense"
Michael Sheen pact made by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown prior to the 1994 Labour Party leadership election, and was the actor's first collaboration with screenwriter Peter Morgan. Director Stephen Frears cast him because "he was in "Mary Reilly" and I knew he was brilliant." Filmed while he was playing "Caligula" nightly on stage, Sheen has remarked, "It's interesting that in searching for monsters to play, you often end up playing leaders." "The Daily Telegraph" praised his "earnest, yet steely, portrayal" while "The Guardian" found him "excellent. This is intelligent and honest casting." In 2004, Sheen starred in ITV's "Dirty Filthy Love",