Trivia

He has two scars. He got one when he was a child and the other from Harrison Ford while shooting his death scene in Patriot Games (1992). Ford accidentally hit him with a boat hook. In the Sharpe series, this was emphasised with makeup to add credibility to his character.

His dislike for flying is so intense that he tries to avoid it as much as he can. During the filming of the "Mount Caradhras" scene in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), he chose to walk to the top for 2 hours every day. While his fellow cast members were ferried in by helicopter, they could often see him hiking in costume to the shooting site. After having flown back to England when his shoot was over, Peter Jackson conceived of an elaborate flashback scene for which Bean was again required to fly to New Zealand. Unfortunately, the scene was later omitted from the movie, although it was included in the extended DVD edition.

Of his many death scenes, his favorite is Boromir's in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), commenting that "you couldn't ask for a more heroic death".

Says that he took the roles of Boromir and Odysseus because he was "tired of being known as a villainous actor" to American audiences (he says he was tired of playing just bad guys and wanted a change of pace and to play a sympathetic character or two).

In a scene midway through Sharpe's Honour (1994), Sharpe and Marquesa Dorada are galloping down a hill on horseback when they suddenly tumble off the horse and land in the middle of a shallow stream. The scene is real; the horse stumbled as it was crossing the stream, sending Bean and co-star Alice Krige down into the water. Director 'Tom Clegg' liked the scene and kept it for the final cut.

He has a "100% BLADE" tattoo on his left shoulder, in honour of his favourite football team, Sheffield United whose nickname is "The Blades". The tattoo is frequently converted (with makeup) into a scar - or a different tattoo - when he is filming.

Has played both Mythological Greek hero Odysseus in Troy (2004) and Greek God Zeus in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010).

Like fellow countryman Gary Oldman, he started out his career playing villainous characters, only to later distance himself from that on screen image by taking more likable roles like the ones he played in Troy (2004) and North Country (2005).

Auditioned for the role of James Bond in The Living Daylights (1987). He later played Bond's nemesis Alec Trevelyan in GoldenEye (1995).

Applied successfully for a grant to study at RADA where he won a Silver Medal and two fencing medals.

Was not the first choice for the role of Richard Sharpe in the Sharpe series; he stepped in when an accident prevented actor Paul McGann from taking the part.

Was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree from the University of Sheffield in England in 1997.

Graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, England.

He is a devoted follower of the Sheffield United Football Club.

He has retained his Sheffield accent.

Sean Bean has become a source of popular Facebook/Internet memes of his character Boromir in the "Lord Of The Rings" films. The memes always begin with the line "One simply does not..." followed by a humorous quote or reference to something in the news or pop culture. This is based on his line "One does not simply walk into Mordor.".

His fear of flying was cured during the filming of The Lord of the Rings.

Is a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford Upon Avon, England, where his credits include "A Midsummer Nights Dream" and "King Richard II".

Appeared in UK adult comic Viz (issue 76, Feb/Mar 1996) in a spoof photo-love story called "I've Bean to Paradise".

He and his ex-wife, Melanie Hill, have two daughters: Lorna Bean and Molly Bean.

Daughter, Evie Natasha born, with Abigail Cruttenden. (November 6, 1998)

Appeared in Moby's video for "We Are All Made of Stars". (2002)

Once played Romeo at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in streetwise-wearing biker's leather.

In an interview with The Sun, he announced that he will no longer accept roles that end up being killed in a movie. (September 2019)

The only film awards he's ever won are from the Screen Actors Guild, the National Board of Review and the Broadcast Film Critics Association; these awards were all for Best Cast Ensemble for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), in which he only appeared for three seconds in archive footage.

Was considered for the part of Kainan in Outlander (2008).

Made his professional stage debut in "Romeo and Juliet" (as Tybalt) at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury, England in 1983.

His father, Brian, owned a fabrication (metal) shop and his mother, Rita, worked as a secretary.

Has three children as of July 2005: Lorna Bean (b. October 1987; mother is Melanie Hill), Molly Bean (b. September 1991; mother is Melanie Hill) and Evie Natasha Bean (b. November 1998; mother is Abigail Cruttenden).

He has received multiple articles of fan mail intended for Rowan Atkinson, who played Mr. Bean.

Appeared in Game of Thrones (2011), with Peter Vaughan. Vaughan had previously played Denethor in the BBC Radio production of "The Lord of the Rings", while Bean played Boromir - Denethor's son - in Peter Jackson's films.

As of 2016, has appeared in three films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) and The Martian (2015). Of those, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) is a winner in the category. He also had scenes in another film nominated for the category: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), but they were only present in the extended edition and not the one screened by the Academy.

At RADA he won the silver medal for his graduation performance in 'Waiting For Godot' and soon after made his stage debut in an 18 week run of 'Romeo and Juliet' at Glasgow's Citizens Theatre playing Tybalt then a compelling Romeo at Stratford.

Is one of four "Lord of the Rings" stars to star, pre-"Rings", with Harrison Ford. He starred with Ford in Patriot Games (1992), and Ford starred with Viggo Mortensen in Witness (1985), and with John Rhys-Davies (Gimli) in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) and with Miranda Otto (Éowyn) in What Lies Beneath (2000).

He was considered for the role of Hank Pym in Ant-Man (2015) that went to Michael Douglas.

Has worked opposite two Aragorns. Prior to working with Viggo Mortensen in The Lord of the Rings, he appeared in The Field (1990) with John Hurt, who had voiced Aragorn in Ralph Bakshi's animated film. Also, in Sharpe's Challenge (2006), he works with Toby Stephens, whose father, Robert Stephens, played Aragorn in the BBC Radio Adaptation.

Has received the Yorkshire Award, was honored with a star on Sheffield's walk of fame, and was awarded 2 Honorary Doctorates by different Sheffield universities.

Since February 2004, has been living in a London hotel after a burst water pipe flooded his house.

Bean has been a fan of Sheffield United since he was eight years old, and has a tattoo on his left shoulder that reads "100% Blade". He opened their hall of fame in 2001 and, after making a six-figure contribution to the club's finances, was on their board of directors between 2002 and 2007 to help raise the profile of the club. He stepped down in 2007 to "go back to being an ordinary supporter" where he feels at home. During his time there, he had some issues with Neil Warnock, former manager of Sheffield United, after Warnock claimed that Bean stormed into his office and shouted at him in front of his wife and daughter when the club had just been relegated from the Premier League. Bean denies it, calling Warnock "bitter" and "hypocritical". He wrote the foreword and helped to promote a book of anecdotes called Sheffield United: The Biography.

Major supporter of the Labour Party.

Has a younger sister called Lorraine Bean.

He was a presenter at the 1995 BAFTA Awards.

Presented the award for Duo of the Year to John Tams and Barry Coope at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. (4th February 2008).

He follows Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

First became interested in acting at his local Arts Community Centre.

Professional debut as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet at Newbury;s Watermill Theatre then went to Glasgows Citizen Theatre for a season followed by joining The Royal Court Theatre.

Tn 1979 obtained a grant to study at RADA where he won a silver medal and 2 fencing medals.

Has a tattoo 100% Blade in his arm in support of Sheffield United football Club.