Michael Sheen explores the strange art of acting, from classic techniques to Method madness

From Tony Blair and David Frost to Aziraphale and Hamlet, Michael Sheen has taken on a host of iconic roles, inhabiting each one with complete conviction. But – whether he’s transforming himself into real figures or bringing fictional ones to life – how does he go about immersing himself in his characters? The answer lies in an obscure Russian theatre technique that has evolved to become a central plank of modern-day acting training.

In this three-part series, Michael explores Stanislavski’s ‘System’, beginning in 1906, when a bad performance inspired Constantin Stanislavski to develop a revolutionary new process for actors to create authentic, naturalistic characters. He goes on to examine how this formula got lost in translation; how it was interpreted in radically different ways by famed acting teachers Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler; and how it morphed into the famous modus operandi popularised by Hollywood’s elite: ‘The Method’.

Speaking to experienced stars including Adrian Lester and Anne-Marie Duff, he analyses their approaches to their craft, and delves into the off-stage drama of drama schools. He also chats to up-and-coming actors Mia McKenna-Bruce and Brandon Grace, discussing their non-traditional routes into the profession and the challenges faced by vulnerable young performers today. And, as he considers the fragile boundaries between actors and the parts they play, he muses on the flip side of getting into character – getting out of character – and reflects on how his many roles have stayed with him, shaping and changing him to make him the actor he is today.

Production credits

Presented by Michael Sheen

Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio

With Isaac Butler; Tom McClane, Adrian Lester, Simon McBurney, Patsy Rodenburg, Anne-Marie Duff, Michael Goldfarb, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Brandon Grace, Lou Platt and David Thackeray

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 14-28 May 2024