‘Breaking Dawn’ star Michael Sheen discusses Aro’s laugh, Volturi bonding and his James Bond future

In 2003, David Morrissey and Michael Sheen played Gordon Brown and Tony Blair in Stephen Frears and Peter Morgan’s political drama “The Deal.”

For some reason I find it funny that in the past two months I’ve talked with David Morrissey about hobnobbing with zombies on “The Walking Dead” and Michael Sheen about his latest tour of bloodsucking duty in “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2.”

There’s nothing like an acclaimed British actor to add prestige to vampires, werewolves, zombies and more.

In “Breaking Dawn – Part 2,” Sheen adds more than his respected pedigree. As Aro, telepathic leader of the vampire-ruling Volturi, Sheen adds impeccable menace and, once again, archly camp hilarity. 

In particular, Aro’s laugh as become a weapon as finely honed as Jane’s pain-infliction. That was the first thing I bought up when I sat down with the finely mustachioed Sheen, who explains the laugh’s origin, even crediting franchise scribe Stephenie Meyer for assistance. 

In our conversation, we also discussed the off-camera bonding among the Volturi, his upcoming Showtime drama “Masters of Sex” [featured in this separate interview snippet] and, in jest one assumes, his James Bond future.