Martin Sheen names his favourite film role of all time
Actor Martin Sheen has performed in a selection of the greatest movies of all time. He played in Terrence Malick’s 1973 crime drama Badlands and gave arguably his crowning performance in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 Vietnam War epic Apocalypse Now in the lead role. Sheen has acted for some of the most significant names in cinema, including David Cronenberg, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg and Oliver Stone.
Sheen’s favourite film role might come as something of a surprise then, given his impressive filmography. It’s the 2010 drama film The Way, written and directed by his son Emilio Estevez, which focuses on an eye doctor who takes a pilgrimage through Northern Spain following his estranged son dying on the very same route.
It was a family affair,” Sheen said. “Janet produced it, Renée appeared in it, Ramon appeared in it, and Emilio wrote and directed it. I think it’s the best thing I ever did. When I saw it as a complete film, I said, ‘Oh my God, am I ever going to get a chance to do something that good again.’ I doubt it because it’s that good.”
Estevez himself has also sung the praises of The Way and his father’s acting in it. He told People: “My dad’s performance in The Way is amazing. He’s lovely in the film, and I loved making a film in Spain. So that’s a very special movie.”
