Here's a fun fact: Welsh actor Michael Sheen (who is not related to Charlie or Martin Sheen), was supposed to be named Christopher. And he thinks the spirits of his Irish ancestors played a hand in making sure he was named Michael. 

This spooky and rather touching story came to light when in 2019 the Twitter account Michael Sheen Facts, dedicated to - you guessed it - "facts" about Michael Sheen, tweeted "Michael Sheen’s real name is Micheal Sheen," using the Irish spelling of Michael. 

Sheen quickly corrected them, sharing that his real name is, in fact, Christopher. 

"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," he wrote. 

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. https://t.co/K5ADoz26RY

— michael sheen (@michaelsheen) July 31, 2019

If you think that's the wildest part of this story, buckle up. 

Sheen went on to explain that a few years ago he did a family history show in which he learned about his Irish ancestor who fled famine-era Ireland for Wales and got married in Cardiff. 

He and his wife went on to have many children but, tragically, not many of them survived. This was especially the case for their male children, all of whom they named Michael. 

They had something like 20 or more children but not many survived. On the certificate it showed that they kept naming the male babies Michael but they all died. They were clearly desperate to have a Michael Sheen but sadly they never managed it.

— michael sheen (@michaelsheen) July 31, 2019

As Sheen wrote, "On the certificate, it showed that they kept naming the male babies Michael but they all died. They were clearly desperate to have a Michael Sheen but sadly they never managed it."

On February 5, 1969, Christopher Sheen was born but fate clearly had other plans for his name. 

"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," Sheen shared. 

"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."

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

To the nurse who mixed up his name tag, Sheen had the following message: "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."* Originally published in Aug 2019. Updated in 2024.