Michael Sheen gets candid about his ‘difficult’ split from Kate Beckinsale as star admits a lack of work visa forced him back to Britain while she stayed in the US with their daughter
- The Welsh actor, 51, and London-born Kate, 47, went their separate ways in 2002 after seven years together
- The split was made all the more complicated because they’d only recently settled in the US with their daughter Lily, now 21
- He said: ‘I had no work visa to stay in America, so every time I left, I had to go back to Britain. I never knew if I would be allowed to come back in again’
- The actor is now a dad once again, having welcomed daughter Lyra with partner Anna Lundberg, 26, in September 2019
- Michael and Kate met in 1995 on a touring production of The Seagull and four years later, in 1999, the actress gave birth to their daughter, Lily
- The former couple are still close friends, and Kate has said of her former partner: ‘I really love him and like him and we make each other roar with laughter’
Michael Sheen has opened up about his 2002 split from Kate Beckinsale, admitting he was forced to the return to Britain as she remained in the US with their daughter.
The Welsh actor, 51, and London-born Kate, 47, went their separate ways after seven years together, but the split was made all the more complicated because they’d only recently settled in the US with their daughter Lily, now 21.
Speaking on the podcast Changes With Annie Macmanus, he said: ‘Going through that experience of a relationship breaking down and having a young child, and then because of my daughter and her mum living in another country, having to make a life in a new place whilst going through that whole experience which is difficult enough.
Painful memories: Michael Sheen has opened up about his 2002 split from Kate Beckinsale. Pictured together in 2001
‘I had no work visa to stay in America, so every time I left, I had to go back to Britain. I never knew if I would be allowed to come back in again.
‘So, I ended up having to get work in Britain because I wasn’t really getting any work in America. It really made me question certain things about myself.’
Michael’s fears were, thankfully, never realised, as he went on to enjoy a hugely successful career on both sides of the Atlantic.
The actor, whose exes include Rachel McAdams and Sarah Silverman, is also now a dad once again, having welcomed daughter Lyra with partner Anna Lundberg, 26, in September 2019.
Complicated: Speaking during an appearance on the podcast Changes With Annie Macmanus, the star revealed the added complications of the breakdown of their relationship
Devoted dad: Despite having to initially return to Britain for work, the actor remained close to his and Kate’s daughter Lily. Pictured together in 2009
Michael and Kate met in 1995 on a touring production of The Seagull and four years later, in 1999, the actress gave birth to their daughter, Lily.
The following year, Sheen punched her co-star Jeremy Northam after he apparently shouted at her on the set of the drama The Golden Bowl.
Recalling the shocking incident, Kate said: ‘Jeremy and I had a disagreement about something. Michael came down to the set to pick Lily up and sees this man yelling at me.
‘So naturally he got very upset and that was that. The truth is, he’s never hit anyone before in his life and it was kind of shocking.’
Friendly: Despite their split, Michael and Kate has remained on good terms. Pictured in 2011
Recreating moments: Back in 2016, Kate and Michael recreated an old picture with their daughter, with the actress posting the adorable results to Instagram
The couple split up in 2002 after seven years together. She later married American film director Len Wiseman, but they separated after 11 years.
Michael and Kate are still close friends, and she has said of him: ‘I really love him and like him and we make each other roar with laughter.’
Indeed, the exes have even popped up on each other’s social media feeds in recent years, as they spend time with their daughter, who is following in their acting footsteps.
Listen to Michael Sheen’s full interview on Changes With Annie Macmanus, out now.
Romance: Michael is now in a relationship with actress Anna Lundberg, 26, with whom he welcomed daughter Lyra in September 2019. Pictured together in January
Source: Read Full Article