Michael Sheen, 51, laments being away from daughter Lily, 21, in her youth

Michael Sheen has discussed his regrets over not spending more time with his daughter Lily, 21, due to his work schedule when she was young. 

Speaking on Rob Beckett And Josh Widdicombe’s Lockdown Parenting Hel‪l‬ podcast, the actor admitted he has regrets over his time away from Lily, who he shares with ex Kate Beckinsale, and how lockdown has been with his baby. 

The screen star, 51, has been in a romance with his Swedish actress Anna Lundberg, 26, since May 2019 and they welcomed daughter Lyra four months later – meaning much of her life has been in the pandemic, something he branded ‘amazing’.

Pained: Michael Sheen has discussed his regrets over not spending more time with his daughter Lily, 21, due to his work schedule when she was young (Michael and Lily pictured in 2016)

In November last year, Michael opened up about his 2002 split from Kate, admitting he was forced to the return to Britain as she remained in the US with Lily.

The Welsh actor and London-born Kate, 47, went their separate ways after seven years together, but the split was made all the more complicated because they’d only recently settled in the US with their daughter Lily.

Speaking about the time apart, he said: ‘I remember when Lily was born, I was working and going away and doing stuff and I really missed that time with her.’

On Lyra meanwhile, he said: ‘I have a baby daughter Lyra coming up to 16 months old. The extraordinary thing is that for most of her life we have been going through this whole pandemic and the lockdown and stuff.

Sweet: The screen star, 51, has been in a romance with his Swedish actress Anna Lundberg, 26, since May 2019 and they welcomed daughter Lyra four months later - meaning much of her life has been in the pandemic, something he branded 'amazing'

Sweet: The screen star, 51, has been in a romance with his Swedish actress Anna Lundberg, 26, since May 2019 and they welcomed daughter Lyra four months later – meaning much of her life has been in the pandemic, something he branded ‘amazing’

‘She was only a few months old when it kicked off. Overall it has been a strange experience. On the one hand it has been amazing because we haven’t been able to focus on much else. It has just been us with her… 

‘Because of circumstances we’ve been together the whole time.

On the negative side of lockdown, he said: ‘It is very peculiar. A lady came to do a covid test. I am on my way to America to film. We have to quarantine for two weeks in an approved country. So we are, at the moment, in St Lucia.

An honour: Speaking on Rob Beckett And Josh Widdicombe's Lockdown Parenting Hel‪l‬ podcast, the actor admitted he has regrets over his time away from Lily, who he shares with ex Kate Beckinsale, and how lockdown has been with his baby (Kate, Lily and Michael, pictured)

An honour: Speaking on Rob Beckett And Josh Widdicombe’s Lockdown Parenting Hel‪l‬ podcast, the actor admitted he has regrets over his time away from Lily, who he shares with ex Kate Beckinsale, and how lockdown has been with his baby (Kate, Lily and Michael, pictured)

‘A lady just came to do our Covid test. She was wearing a red top, a larger lady and a white mask on it. And Lyra the whole way through it kept going: ‘Santa, Santa.’ We all laughed about it…

‘What a weird time for kids of their age or any age to grow up in. She’s barely played with any other kids. The adults she meets have all got these masks on.

‘Under normal circumstances we would be going out, a lot. I am about half an hour from my mum and dad. There is a beach which is lovely. Before the lockdown we would go down there all the time. It’s a lovely place to go to the beach.

Happy days: Michael's fears were, thankfully, never realised, as he went on to enjoy a hugely successful career on both sides of the Atlantic

Happy days: Michael’s fears were, thankfully, never realised, as he went on to enjoy a hugely successful career on both sides of the Atlantic

Last year, during his chat about Kate, he said: ‘Going through that experience of a relationship breaking down and having a young child, and then because of my daughter and her mum living in another country, having to make a life in a new place whilst going through that whole experience which is difficult enough.

‘I had no work visa to stay in America, so every time I left, I had to go back to Britain. I never knew if I would be allowed to come back in again. 

‘So, I ended up having to get work in Britain because I wasn’t really getting any work in America. It really made me question certain things about myself.’ 

Michael’s fears were, thankfully, never realised, as he went on to enjoy a hugely successful career on both sides of the Atlantic.  

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