Rowan Atkinson, known worldwide as Mr. Bean, celebrates his 70th birthday today. This British actor, who rose to fame in one iconic role, has an IQ of 180, struggled with a stutter, and his popularity even surpassed Madonna. Although he is not one of the actors cast in big Hollywood blockbusters, his character as a confused weirdo with a child’s soul has won the hearts of audiences around the world. But what is the story of this extraordinary comedian?
Childhood and Education: From Electrical Engineering to Acting
Born the youngest of four sons, Rowan Atkinson was always encouraged by his parents to choose a stable career. Acting was definitely not on their wish list. However, Rowan was able to make almost everyone laugh since childhood, although he himself did not think much about an acting career.
After graduating from a prestigious school in Oxford, he received a degree in electrical engineering and his intellect was admirable – his IQ reaches 180, which ranks him among the most intelligent people in the world.
However, his life path changed during his studies at Oxford. In the theater club there, he met screenwriter Richard Curtis, who later became famous for his scripts for films such as Heavenly Love or Bridget Jones’s Diary. Their collaboration was fateful – not only did they understand each other on a personal level, but they also shared a similar sense of humor. Together they created several successful projects, such as the British sitcom Black Viper. However, their biggest success was the character Mr. Bean.
Birth of Mr. Beana: The Character That Changed Everything
Mr. Bean first appeared on the screens in 1990 and immediately gained immense popularity. Rowan Atkinson co-wrote the screenplay with Curtis and created a character that was inspired by greats of visual comedy such as Charlie Chaplin or Stan Laurel. Mr. Bean is selfish, self-centered and often oblivious to the world around him, which is typical of many comedic characters. His best friend? Teddy bear.
Interestingly, Mr. Bean barely speaks, which may have been partly influenced by Rowan Atkinson’s years of struggling with stuttering. This character brought him huge success, but also put him in the “one role actor” box. Although he tried to establish himself in other films, such as the series about agent Johnny English, viewers still associate him most with Mr. Bean.
Internet success and fan adoration
Although Rowan Atkinson in recent years from the role of Mr. He distanced Bean, his popularity on the Internet is staggering. His YouTube channel has over 34 million subscribers and the Mr. Beana has more than 141 million followers on Facebook – far more than, say, Madonna or Harry Potter. This success brought him not only fame, but also considerable wealth. His fortune is estimated at 130 million dollars, which he invests mainly in his passion – fast cars.
Award from the royal family
Rowan Atkinson has become an icon of British comedy and his contribution has even been recognized by the royal family. In 2013, Queen Elizabeth II. awarded the Order of the British Empire for his services to the entertainment industry. Although he is known for his comedic expression on screen, he accepted the award with a serious face.
Personal life: Love and family
In his personal life, Rowan Atkinson is certainly not as confused as his most famous character. After 23 years of marriage with makeup artist Sunetra Sastry, with whom he has two children, he fell in love with actress Louise Ford, 26 years his junior. Although he never married her, their daughter Isla was born in 2018.
Rowan Atkinson is still engaged in acting, especially on the stage, which is his heart’s business. Although he considered “retiring” the character of Mr. Bean, he never said a definite “no”. So viewers can hope that their favorite weirdo will return someday.
Rowan Atkinson is proof that even a single role can change a life and leave an indelible mark on comedy history. His story is an inspiration to all who believe that with talent and determination anything can be achieved.
Source: zpravy.tiscali.cz
