7. Michael Sheen As Tony Blair The Queen
20th Century FoxIts no wonder that Michael Sheen has now played Tony Blair in 3 different films: The Deal, The Queen (both of which were directed by Stephen Frears) and The Special Relationship. Its not just that he has some of Blairs aesthetic characteristics; its the careful, precise mannerisms that he brings to the role, not to mention the worrisome veneer thats become synonymous with Blair. While it might not be the title role, the controversial figure features heavily throughout. The film is focussed on the aftermath that surrounded the death of Princess Diana, and attempts to display the inner workings of the British Monarchy through the familys matriarch, as well as through the coercive attempts by Blair to get the monarchy to recognise and respond to the national outpouring of grief. The film sees Blair as a conflicted figure, stuck between the antimonarchist sentiments of his wife and the mocking press. In The Queen, Blair is sympathetic to the plight of the British Royal Family, but aware of his responsibilities as the new Prime Minister Blair has never been played with such a distinctly human edge, hes neither the knight in shining armour nor the bumbling idiot.