Michael Sheen insists his new film's portrayal of Brian Clough is "affectionate".
The football legend's family stayed away from the premiere of The Damned United in London.
They were unhappy with David Peace's novel and have now also shunned the movie which has been adapted from it.
But Sheen told The Times: "I completely understand why [his family] would be worried - if it was a member of my family I'd feel the same way. But it's an incredibly affectionate portrayal."
Sheen, who has now added Clough to Tony Blair (in The Queen) and David Frost (in Frost/Nixon) as real-life characters he has played on screen, was joined on the red carpet by co-stars including Timothy Spall, who plays Clough's long-time assistant Peter Taylor.
The Damned United focuses on his infamous 44-day spell as manager of Leeds United in the 1970s.
The film hits UK cinemas on 27 March.
The football legend's family stayed away from the premiere of The Damned United in London.
They were unhappy with David Peace's novel and have now also shunned the movie which has been adapted from it.
But Sheen told The Times: "I completely understand why [his family] would be worried - if it was a member of my family I'd feel the same way. But it's an incredibly affectionate portrayal."
Sheen, who has now added Clough to Tony Blair (in The Queen) and David Frost (in Frost/Nixon) as real-life characters he has played on screen, was joined on the red carpet by co-stars including Timothy Spall, who plays Clough's long-time assistant Peter Taylor.
The Damned United focuses on his infamous 44-day spell as manager of Leeds United in the 1970s.
The film hits UK cinemas on 27 March.
