GOOD NEWS STORY: Actor Wipes Out Over $1M In Debt For 900 People Using His Own Money

Actor Michael Sheen has stepped up in a major way to help struggling families in his home country of Wales.

The Good Omens and Twilight star has personally cleared $1.29 million in debt for 900 people, using $129,000 of his own money.

Sheen has launched a debt acquisition company aimed at helping those facing financial hardship in south Wales. His efforts are featured in the upcoming Channel 4 documentary, Michael Sheen’s Secret Million Pound Giveaway, which sheds light on how banks and financial institutions profit from individuals trapped in debt.

“The shocking thing is that people have started having to use credit cards, overdrafts to pay for basics, to pay for necessities, rather than luxuries or anything like that,” Sheen explained. “So the debt that I was able to buy included credit card debt, overdrafts, car finance, that kind of stuff.”

Sheen, who has long been known for his philanthropic efforts, admitted he was initially hesitant about spending such a large sum, telling BBC’s The One Show that he doesn’t have £100,000 to “throw around.” However, after a conversation in a Port Talbot café, where a woman spoke about steelworkers in tears over financial struggles, he knew he had to act.

His initiative comes just months after the closure of a major blast furnace in Wales, which marked the end of traditional steelmaking in the area and led to wide spread job losses.

“You need some help to get through these times,” Sheen said. “People are getting into spirals of debt. Once you’re underwater, it’s very hard to get out again. That’s why I wanted to do this — to draw attention to the fact that this is going on, and there is a way to change it.”