Hollywood actor and University of Galway student Martin Sheen was asked not to attend a party at the White House where his "The West Wing" co-stars were invited to meet their real-life counterparts.
10/06/2006 - Martin Sheen - RFK Memorial Celebrity Gala Honoring President Clinton and Human Rights Defenders for the Ripple of Hope Award - Chelsea Piers - New York, NY © Janet Mayer / Photorazzi
The 66-year-old actor played President "Jed" Bartlet on the US political drama. Sheen and Clinton were good friends, but the Texan who sits in power now did not "cotton" to the outspoken Malibu resident and liberal Democratic actor.
"I adored Mr. Clinton...and he was a fan of The West Wing. For a while we were given carte blanche at the White House, which ended when Bush got in - ended for me anyway. When the new administration got into power, all my West Wing colleagues were invited there to meet their counterparts. All except me. I was very relieved about that," reported Contactmusic.com.
Sheen is currently studying for an English Literature degree at Galway's National University Of Ireland, where he has been studying since September, 2006.
Sheen revealed, "I'm allowed to roam free. I have a mentor, a young man a third of my age... He looks after me and makes sure I get the notes if I miss any lectures. It's been one of the great adventures of my life....My only regrets are that I didn't do it earlier and I can't do it any further. I just love this country and the experiences I've had here."
The actor told Contactmusic.com the current President is "all an image" who keeps a false front, and is out of touch with average Americans.
"He had this image, that he's a regular guy you could sit down and have a beer with. But it's all an image. Take the Dixie Chicks - you know, those girls who said around the time of the invasion of Iraq, 'we're ashamed to be from the same state as Bush'? Now, if you're the President, and you're sitting on a 70 per cent approval rating, you just let these girls hang out to dry.
"They're getting death threats, their CDs are being burned and concerts cancelled. And you say nothing, because that's who you are. "Or if you're clever, you say, 'This is an opportunity, let's invite them to the next barbecue and if they don't turn up we'll just play their records, because by God I love their music and I don't care how they feel about me'. But he couldn't leave it alone. He didn't have that kind of heart," Contactmusic quoted the actor.
eugene mitchellJan 16th, 2007 - 20:43:04
yup ireland is great no doubt, should of come to my home city of limerick, we would of got a fine welcome
he's one of my all time favourite actors apocalypse now pure excellence
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