The role of Mister Bean is probably the one that brought Rowan Atkinson – already well known in the UK – worldwide notoriety. This role opened other doors for him and allowed him to make very remarkable appearances in the cinema. But in recent years his presence has been more discreet. What becomes of the hilarious actor?
Born in the town of Consett, in County Durham in England, Rowan Atkinson graduated in electrical engineering integrates the prestigious University of Oxford. He graduated with a master’s degree in the same discipline and the title of engineer. Nothing then destines him to the profession of actor. But Rowan Atkinson took acting classes in college and did the meeting of Richard Curtis director and actor. And one thing leading to another, he went on stage, then from 1979 hosted a radio program on the BBC called The Atkinson people. His success exploded on British television thanks to the series Blackadder (The Black Viper, editor’s note) in which he revisits alongside Hugh Laurie (Doctor House) British history from the Middle Ages to the First World War. The chiseled dialogues and the cult lines make it still today a must for fans of the british sense of humor.
However, it is his next role that gives him international notoriety. In 1990, inspired in particular of the universe of Jacques Tati and his Mr. Hulot, he creates the lunar and ultra candid character of Mister Bean. The role held for five years opened the doors of the cinema to him. In particular, it will become the iconic father Gerald of Four weddings and a funeral, a role written to measure by his lifelong friend, Richard Curtis.
Coming back soon in a highly anticipated film
In 1997, Mister Bean, who had so far only known the honors of television, moved into cinemas, Rowan Atkinson also made a remarkable appearance as a disgruntled jeweler in Love Actually facing Alan Rickman, it also becomes the star of Johnny English, a film that will have two sequels, in which he takes on the role of a British secret service agent, an assumed parody of the James Bond universe.
A flagship of British humor, Rowan Atkinson, however, turns the wheel and turns his back on comedy. In 2016, He becomes Maigret in the British adaptation of Simenon’s novels. If this choice surprises, the actor over the four episodes nevertheless convinces the public of his dramatic skills. After the shooting in 2018 of Johnny English strikes back, the actor disappears from the cinema screens. Divorced BBC Makeup Artist Sunetra Sastry who gave him two children, Benjamin and Lily, the actor found love again in 2014 with actress Louise Ford, 28 years younger. The latter gave him in 2017 a little girl named Isla. To allow his companion a career, Rowan Atkinson puts a brake on his to take care of his daughter. However, between 2019 and 2020 he shoots 20 episodes of Handy Bean, videos in which we discover the multiple creative activities of his favorite character, which obviously turn into disaster.
Good news anyway for fans of the comedian who hope to find him in theaters, Rowan Atkinson to star in one of 2023’s most anticipated films,Wonka by Paul King alongside Timothy Chalamet and Olivia Colman. A great project for the actor who is celebrating his 67th birthday on January 6!