Here are 7 facts that you probably didn’t know about the adored English actor and comedian, better known by a character he portrays, ‘Mr. Bean’. (Compiled by Aradhana George)
Rowan Atkinson was born on January 6, 1995, in Consett, a town in the County Durham district of the United Kingdom, to Eric Atkinson and Ella May. He is the youngest to three older brothers—Rupert Atkinson, Paul Atkinson and Rodney Atkinson.
He did his schooling in Durham Chorister School—which is also where Sir Anthony Charles Lynton Blair, former Prime Minister of the UK, studied—and then at St Bees School.
The popular comedy sitcom, ‘Mr. Bean’ starred Rowan Atkinson. Before they decided to settle for ‘Mr. Bean’, several other ‘vegetable’ names were suggested for the character, including ‘Mr. Cauliflower’.
Rowan Atkinson actually suffers from stammering, finding it difficult to pronounce certain words, although he doesn’t have it always which might explain why he has not appeared in a lot of interviews.
He has a special liking for fast cars, and owns several. He professes this devotion in the ‘CAR magazine’, a British magazine that publishes news, feature articles, reviews, etc. about cars. He also uses the real Aston Martin DB7 Vantage that he owns, in the action-comedy film, ‘Johnny English Strikes Again’.
Atkinson is a close friend of King Charles. He was present at the weddings of King Charles III and Queen Camilla (2005), Prince William and Princess Catherine (2011), and Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan (2018).
He once saved his family from what could have turned into a plane crash, by taking over flight control when the pilot fainted, in spite of having no prior formal training in flying aircrafts. Once the pilot regained consciousness, he was able to land them safely.