Underworld and The Good Fight star Michael Sheen has revealed a mix-up at the hospital when he was born led to him being named after his Irish ancestors.
Responding to a fan page on social media, 50-year-old Sheen said that his parents had initially called him Christopher before he was taken into the care of nurses after being born.
He tweeted: "Actually my parents named me Christopher but the nurses had to look after me the first week as my mum wasn't well and they got my names mixed up on my tag so when I was collected my parents asked for Christopher and the nurses said ... we have a Michael? So they went with it."
Then a few years ago I did one of those family history shows. They told me about my ancestor coming to Wales from Ireland during the famine. They showed me the certificate for him getting married in Cardiff. And then the list of children he and his wife had.
— michael sheen (@michaelsheen) July 31, 2019
Sheen further explained that when his Irish ancestors emigrated to Wales during the famine, they named several babies Michael Sheen, but sadly none of them survived.
He added: "Generations went by in our family and no Michaels emerged and their story was forgotten. Then one day, many, many years later a nurse got a name tag mixed up and unknowingly tricked whatever malevolent force was at work trying to stop a Michael Sheen emerge.
And, that long forgotten young mother and father, without ever knowing it, and without us knowing why they so desperately wanted it, finally got their wish.
— michael sheen (@michaelsheen) July 31, 2019
"So to that nurse, whoever you are, wherever you are, if you're even still alive, on behalf of my long dead ancestors and their mysterious desire - thank you."
