In a new interview for What to Watch, Michael Sheen talks about doing the Sky cinema Christmas movie, as well as (not) being the next Doctor in Doctor Who and Good Omens:
What was the appeal of Last Train To Christmas?
Michael says: “Christmas, time travel and trains — it ticks all my boxes! All things I love and find intriguing. It’s such a simple idea — that you can time travel by changing train carriages. Why hasn’t it been done before?!”
Your larger-than-life character, Tony, certainly goes on quite a journey…
“It’s in the tradition of A Christmas Carol or It’s a Wonderful Life, where Scrooge and George Bailey see an alternative version of themselves. And Tony has the power to change things – but should he? You think you’d go back in time and alter things if given the opportunity, but in this film I realised, as Tony does, that every decision you make has a knock-on effect on other people’s lives. And changes could make things worse for those you care about. So no, I’d leave things well alone if someone said I could go back in time! Nor would I want to see the future. One of the things I love about life is the idea of possibility, of waking up thinking anything could happen. It’s what makes life exciting.”
Was it fun using fashion and hairstyles to follow Tony across the decades?
“One of the joys of this film was making me look so different. But it was also one of the challenges, making sure the wonderful details of the 1970s and 1980s – the outfits, Now That’s What I Call Music and Walkmans! – didn’t overwhelm the story, the personal journey that Tony was going on. Hopefully we get the balance right. You’d be surprised how few wigs I wear, given the amount of hairstyles. Only the 1980s mullet is a wig, the rest is my own lockdown hair! My two-year-old daughter, Lyra, would often come and see me on set and go, “Who’s that?”. Pretty soon she was like, “Oh, it’s just Daddy with silly hair!”.
Did you base Tony on anyone?
“Well, Julian Kemp, who wrote and directed the film, had read Peter Stringfellow’s autobiography, so he’s the starting point for the 1980s Tony we first meet. And I guess other roles I’ve played in my career were in versions of Tony, so there’s the ego of Brian Clough, a little bit of {David} Frost, Kenneth Williams maybe. He’s quite a character to play.”
Any special moments from filming Last Train To Christmas?
“The opening scene, boarding the train, when Nathalie walked up to me with her 1980s outfit and hair – that was memorable! I was a teenager growing up in Port Talbot in the ’80s and if I’d seen her then my life could’ve been very different!”
Since we’re talking about time travel, Doctor Who fans are keen to see you in the TARDIS when Jodie Whittaker bows out of the role next year…
“It’s incredibly flattering but I’d be very surprised if the Doctor transforms into me because I’ve not heard from anyone!”
Anything you can tell us about Good Omens season 2?
“I’d be murdered if I told you what to expect! We’re filming now and I can guarantee they’ll be an angel that looks very much in love with a demon…”Finally, what are your Christmas plans, Michael?
“I’ll be home in Wales with family, focusing on giving Lyra a lovely Christmas. She’s two and all her traditions and memories will start this year, so myself and partner, Anna {actress Anna Lundberg}, want to make it as special as possible. Merry Christmas everyone!”