Michael Sheen Denies That He Wants to Quit Acting for Political Activism

Sheen previously told the Times of London that he would "work less as an actor."

ByABC News
December 18, 2016, 12:15 PM
Michael Sheen attends the premiere of "Passengers," in Westwood, California, Dec. 14, 2016.
Michael Sheen attends the premiere of "Passengers," in Westwood, California, Dec. 14, 2016.
VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images

— -- Michael Sheen is denying reports that he's stepping away from Hollywood to pursue a career in political activism.

The "Passengers" actor wrote on Twitter Saturday, "Before this gets ridiculous I said I'm thinking I might start acting less and maybe even stop for a while at some point but don't know yet."

The Welsh actor was responding to a report in The Times that claimed he wanted to return home, from Los Angeles, to combat the "demagogic, fascistic" political landscape, adding that he "would work less as an actor, and possibly stop."

Sheen, 47, elaborated in a Tumblr post titled, "WHAT I DID NOT SAY."

"I DID NOT declare that I’m 'quitting acting and leaving Hollywood' to go into politics," he wrote.

Sheen added that he told the Times reporter that he'd like to "become more involved with community issues back at home over the last few years and because of the political situation it's something I would like to focus on more."

Sheen is referring to Brexit, or "British exit," in which Britain voted to leave the European Union back in June.

"I certainly did NOT equate people who voted for Brexit or Trump with a fascistic 'hard right' that must be stopped," he said. "The majority of people in the U.K., including my hometown of Port Talbot, voted for Brexit. That is the will of the people and is to be respected. That is democracy.

"The interviewer asked me what that meant for my career and I said it might mean I work less as an actor and maybe even stop for a while AT SOME POINT. But I don’t really know yet," he continued.

According to The Times, Sheen said, "In the same way as the Nazis had to be stopped in Germany in the Thirties, this thing that is on the rise has to be stopped."

"It's not going to look like this in 10 years' time," Sheen said. "Everything has shifted. The dice are being rolled again. Once I'm in, I'm fully in, and this is big. It will be a big change for how people relate to me."