Martin Sheen: Acting is my living, but activism keeps me alive

Martin Sheen today revealed that winning an Oscar would be the “crowning achievement” of his career - but it is political activism, not acting, that keeps him going.

He praised politically conscious young people - from education campaigner Malala Yousafzai to members of the Occupy movement - as inspiring in their willingness to take on the world.

The star of West Wing and Apocalypse Now spoke exclusively to the Standard before joining a day of activism with 12,000 young people in London.

His back catalogue of hit films includes Badlands, Wall Street, JFK and The Departed, with his most recent appearance in Stephen Daldry’s Bafta - nominated thriller Trash, set in the rubbish tips of Brazil. But he said it no longer occurred to him that he might be recognised for his performances.

“Winning an Oscar is a crowning achievement in our industry. I would be delighted if it happened in my life. But I’ve done the majority of my work,” he said. “I have a great future behind me. It isn’t something I think about and regret. And I’ve had a wonderful life, I couldn’t be happier.

“Acting is what I do for a living, activism is what I do to stay alive.”

Sheen - who formed a trade union when he was a teenage golf caddie - will join Nelson Mandela’s grandson Kweku and Sir Richard Branson at We Day UK, at the SSE Arena, Wembley, on March 5. The event aims to inspire and support young people to take action on causes they are passionate about. “They’re not being asked to change the world. You change yourself and that’s how the world changes,” said Sheen.

“[We Day] inspires young people to make a contribution in communities in very practical ways.” He paid tribute to activists such as Kayla Mueller, the American humanitarian worker killed in Syria by Islamic State, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala, who campaigns for girls’ education despite being shot by the Taliban in Pakistan.

They showed how many “heroic” young people there are, he said. “Look what Malala did, this little child. She’s changed the focus on girls in the world. Is there any greater inspiration at this time?”

Praising the economic and environmental activists of the Occupy movement, he added: “It sent a clear challenge to the top of the heap of what is at stake: that we all inhabit the same planet and breathe the same air and our futures are inextricably connected.”

For more information on We Day, which will be supported by Virgin Atlantic Airways and Barclays, visit weday.com.

@Louise_Jury