Bean

Background:

British comedian Rowan Atkinson is a household name in his native homeland thanks to his well-developed comic character Mr. Bean, who appeared for the first time in the series “Mr. Bean” (1990-1995). Gaining commercial and critical applause, Atkinson received a BAFTA nomination for his titular role. He later reprised the role in the big screen version of Bean (1997), as well as in the upcoming sequel Bean 2 (2007).

The hilarious character was not his only success. Previously winning a British Academy Award after playing various roles in the series “Not the Nine O’Clock News” (1979-1982, also co-wrote with Richard Curtis), Atkinson became a British sensation due to his performances in the Blackadder dynasty series: “The Black Adder” (1983, as Prince Edmund the Duke of Edinburgh), “Blackadder II” (1986, starred as Lord Edmund Blackadder), “Blackadder the Third” (1987, played Edmund Blackadder, Esq) and “Blackadder Goes Forth” (1989, as Capt. Edmund Blackadder). Not only did he win viewers’ hearts, but he also netted a second British Academy Award. Adding to the list, the actor also became a three-time winner of the Aftonbladet TV Prize (1994, 1996, and 1998) and was the recipient of the 2002 Telvis for Foreign Male TV Performer.

Off camera, the 1980 BBC Personality of the Year was treated for depression after Johnny English (2003) critically failed. In 2004, he was alleged by a newspaper to be on the edge of a breakdown. The allegation soon triggered his lawsuit against the newspaper, demanding substantial undisclosed damages and a public apology. As for his romantic life, Atkinson is the husband of a makeup artist and the father of two.


Racing Craze

Childhood and Family:

Rowan Sebastian Atkinson was born on January 6, 1955, to Ella May and Eric Atkinson in the UK. His father owned a farm, but he was brought up with his two brothers, Rupert and Rodney, in a residential area.

After graduating from the Cathedral Chorister School in Durham, Rowan studied Electrical Engineering at the well-known Oxford University. While in college, he performed sketches for the Oxford University Dramatic Society (OUDS) and the Experimental Theatre Club (ETC), which led him to meet screenwriter Richard Curtis and composer Howard Goodall, his future associates.
Aside from acting, Rowan apparently also possesses a particular fondness toward racing and cars. He has an HGV license, has various fast cars, writes articles for a British car magazine and joins the Aston Martins Owners club race series.

Rowan is married to makeup artist Sunetra Sastry (born in 1957), whom he married in 1990. The couple has two children, a son named Benjamin Atkinson and a daughter named Lily Atkinson.


The Blackadder

Career:

While studying in college, Rowan Atkinson became acquainted with Richard Curtis, with whom he started writing and performing comedy revues at the Oxford Playhouse and the Edinburgh Fringe in 1977. Before long, Atkinson’s talent for visual comedy brought him several offers to appear on the small screen, but they were declined in favor of the TV short comedy Canned Laughter (1979). For the short film, he wrote the material, as well as played the multiple roles of Robert Box/Dave Perry/Mr. Marshall.

The same year, he co-wrote the successful sketch comedy series “Not the Nine O’Clock News” (1979-1982, with Richard Curtis) and performed various roles in it. Thanks to his originality, Atkinson soon took home a British Academy for Best Light Entertainment Performance. The comedian also appeared in an episode of “The Innes Book of Records” (1980) and in Fundamental Frolics (1981, as himself). Trying the action genre, he had a non-comic supporting turn as Nigel Small-Fawcett in the James Bond movie Never Say Never Again (1983).

Atkinson brilliantly resumed his writing effort, with Richard Curtis, through the historical sitcom “The Black Adder” (1983), in which he also starred as the scheming, but foolish, Prince Edmund the Duke of Edinburgh, who tried to take the crown from his father. He later reappeared in the sequels: “Blackadder II” (1986, starred as Lord Edmund Blackadder, the great-great grandson of Prince Edmund), “Blackadder the Third” (1987, played Edmund Blackadder, Esq., who became the Prince’s butler) and “Blackadder Goes Forth” (1989, as Capt. Edmund Blackadder, a World War I army captain). The last installment won Atkinson his second British Academy.

The performer also returned to the stage and had leading roles in two West End productions, “The Nerd” (1985) and “The Sneeze” (1989). As a storywriter, Atkinson re-teamed with Curtis to develop a funny, child-like character that eventually became his wide-reaching signature role, Mr. Bean. His comic role was featured in the long-running series “Mr. Bean” (1990-1995) and eventually earned him a BAFTA nomination for Best Light Entertainment Performance. Aside from his resounding success in the series, Atkinson also wrote materials for other comic performances, such as The Driven Man (1991, TV), Rowan Atkinson Live (1992, TV) and the episodic “Funny Business” (1992).

Atkinson, who is also known as “the man with the rubber face,” played Dexter Hayman in the spoof movie Hot Shots Part Deux (1993), before providing his voice for Zazu the Hornbill in Disney’s animated fable The Lion King (1994). He also had a non-comic performance in the made-for-TV sport biopic Full Throttle (1995), as Sir Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin, which was followed by another sitcom, the Ben Elton-written “The Thin Blue Line” (1995-1996, starred as Insp. Raymond C. Fowler). As if confirming the popularity of his self-developed characters, Atkinson reprised his role of Mr. Bean in the silver screen movie Bean (1997) and revived the Blackadder tale in Blackadder Back & Forth (1999, as Lord Edmund Blackadder/King Edmund III/Blackaddercus).

Due to his exceptional ability in acting and comedy, Atkinson became a three-time winner of the Aftonbladet TV Prize for Best Male Foreign TV Personality, in 1994, 1996, and 1998. Continuing his work on screen, the actor took roles in the romantic comedy Maybe Baby (2000), Rat Race (2001), the live-action Scooby-Doo (2002, played Emile Mondavarious, the Spooky Island owner), Johnny English (2003, had the titular character) and the short spoof Spider-Plant Man (2005, TV).

The recipient of the 2002 Telvis for Foreign Male TV Performer, Atkinson will return to the screen after his two-year hiatus as Mr. Bean in the sequel Bean 2 (2007). The comedy movie, which is written by Robin Driscoll and Simon McBurney, will also feature Emma de Caunes and Willem Dafoe.


Awards:

• Telvis: Foreign Male TV Performer, 2002
• Aftonbladet TV Prize: Best Foreign TV Personality – Male, 1998
• Aftonbladet TV Prize: Best Foreign TV Personality – Male, 1996
• Aftonbladet TV Prize: Best Foreign TV Personality – Male, 1994
• British Academy: Best Light Entertainment Performance, “Blackadder Goes Forth,” 1990
• British Academy: Best Light Entertainment Performance, “Not The Nine O’ Clock News,” 1981