Auto collector and frustrated physicist: how the famous 'Mr. Bean' Rowan Atkinson lives
'12.01.2021'
Source: LADY.TUT.BY
I wanted to become a physicist, but became one of the most famous comedians in the world. For several decades he played the same character, but he did not tire his audience with it. His hero is one of the main symbols of modern Great Britain, along with the queen, a red double-decker bus and a guardsman in a furry hat. All this is about Mr. Bean and the actor who played him Rowan Atkinson, who turned 6 on January 66, writes LADY.TUT.BY.
Rowan Atkinson comes from a large family, completely far from creativity. My father disappeared for days at his work, as did my mother, who, moreover, also managed to take care of three children. Little Rowan often suffered from his parents and older brothers for his grimaces and imitations. But at school, his comedic talent came in handy.
In the very prestigious Chorister (in which the actor, by the way, studied with Tony Blair - the future British Prime Minister), classmates often made fun of the future comedian because of his frail physique. Atkinson solved the problem in a peculiar way: he began to parody the teachers - and now they laughed not at him, but at his characters. The story continued at the closed private school in St. Bis.
- Tennis. Rugby. Cricket. I was incredibly helpless in such pursuits. And somehow I found myself in the locker room in the same underpants, portraying our teachers. I did it deliberately. My classmates appreciated my comic talents, and I was no longer so excruciatingly awkward for my mediocrity in sports. Since then, it has become a tradition that allowed me to avoid ridicule and calmly master academic knowledge.
Only after graduating from high school, Rowan decided to end clowning for good. He enters Newcastle University in the Department of Electronics. Exact sciences were given to him very easily: a phenomenal memory that allows you to memorize gigantic formulas, plus hands growing from the "right place":
- Many people have always told me that I should be doing something creative, art or linguistic. Perhaps I should study Russian, French or English literature. But I really wanted to be an engineer. Since childhood, I have had a real passion for electrical appliances.
At the age of 10, I could disassemble and assemble an iron. And I got two coveted degrees, one in electronic design and the other in control system design. If I still connected my life with technology, I would probably become an operator or sound engineer. But, one way or another, he dreamed of working in the field of film or television. I remember when I was 18 years old, I tried to get a job at the BBC, but did not pass the interview. In the interview, I was asked: "Should the sound in the studio be alive or dead?" I answered: “Of course, alive. So it's much more interesting. " Unfortunately, this was the wrong answer. As a result, as you can imagine, I ended up on the other side of the same business.
In 1975 he successfully graduated from the university. I sat down for scientific work, but realized that I was bored:
- Have you tried to write your PhD? This is the most dreary occupation in the world!
It was at this time that he met "the very" people: the composer Howard Goodall and the writer Richard Curtis.
- With Richard, we somehow immediately found a common language. He is a brilliant screenwriter and director, and it is not for nothing that his films True Love and Notting Hill have become classics. But before all that, we created the TV series Blackadder about the sarcastic snob Blackadder (Black Viper) in my performance.
But the Black Viper was still a long way off. In the meantime, Atkinson becomes the star of the Experimental Theater Club and the Drama Community of Oxford University, where he brilliantly acts out humorous sketches, written in collaboration with Curtis. And very soon, the master of electrical engineering goes on a theatrical tour of the country.
A radio show called "Atkinson's People" appears: Rowan interviews characters he invented. The audience was delighted. It's time to conquer television. What the actor did brilliantly by filming his own sketch show "Not Nine O'clock News."
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After this very successful debut, Atkinson was invited to the comedy TV series "The Black Viper", which tells about the adventures of a nobleman from one very noble family. The action stretches from the time of King Richard the Lionheart to the First World War. The main role - that of the nobleman traveling through the centuries - was assigned to Rowan Atkinson. He was accompanied on the set by famous actors Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry.
- At that time, in the late 70s and early 80s, Fawlty Towers died down on the BBC. Any sitcom was automatically compared to them, and we decided: if we start in the Middle Ages, surely no one can accuse us of slapping a miserable resemblance of the Folty Towers. But the idea didn't work until we decided to turn the dynamics upside down. Blackadder became an intelligent and sarcastic gray cardinal at court. We began to move in different eras, from Elizabeth I to the Civil War, we were joined by Stephen Fry and Miranda Richardson, Hugh Laurie. Then no one, in fact, knew them, but now we have all moved to the section of the national treasure of England.
In 2000, the series entered the top twenty "100 Greatest British Television Programs" by the British Film Institute.
And yet, a completely different comedy brought the actor worldwide popularity. A small sketch in the New Year's program 1989, in which Atkinson appeared as a certain Mr. Bean, instantly became very popular. And the series "Mr. Bean", which was released soon after, only consolidated its success. In fact, Bina Atkinson invented it a long time ago, back in his student years. But the chance to introduce him to TV viewers appeared only now. Mr. Bean spoke little: he mainly used body language and the richest natural facial expressions - therefore, very soon foreign viewers became interested in him.
- Mr. Bean is, indeed, much more famous than myself. They call me Mr. Bean on the street more often than my real name. It doesn't bother me, on the contrary, royalties from the show of Mr. Bean still fall into my bank account.
Each new episode of Mr. Bean's adventures attracted more than 20 million viewers from the screens. There were also full-length films about the adventures of an unlucky gentleman - "Mr. Bean" and "Mr. Bean on vacation".
- In fact, I'm very glad that my Mr. Bean has become so popular. Sometimes I think that thanks to him, millions or even billions of people know me, with whom I will never be able to meet personally. Perhaps such thoughts can only evoke pride. Mr. Bean is an interesting character: he is constantly evolving. He, of course, is not a part of me. Perhaps this is my reflection at 9 or 10 years old, because Mr. Bean is such a child at heart!
Bean became so strongly associated with the image of modern Britain that Rowan Atkinson was invited to take part in the opening of the Olympic Games in London: Bean was to play the synthesizer along with the orchestra performing the soundtrack from the movie "Chariots of Fire". This video received quite a few likes on social media.
The animated series about Mr. Bean, which started in 2014, in which Atkinson voiced the main role, was also popular. But what can I say, even a commercial for a chocolate bar, in which a comedy character appeared, was instantly replicated by all popular channels. True, shooting in it was not so easy: according to the plot, the actor who is afraid of heights had to rise two meters and balance dangerously. But in the end everything worked out.
However, Atkinson was not stuck in the image of Bean: in 2003, he “cheats on his twin” and appears on the big screen as British intelligence agent Johnny English in the film Agent Johnny English. The film was conceived as a parody of Bondiad, but collected completely unfunny money at the box office. And Rowan received flattering reviews from film critics and the EuropeanFilmAwards professional award for best actor.
And in 2016, a picture was released in which the comedian was completely unrecognizable. This time, he appeared before the audience in the role of the famous criminal police commissioner Maigret. At first, Rowan refused to participate in the film, he was afraid that the image of Bean he had replicated would not allow the audience to adequately perceive him in this film work. The creators of the picture did not want to hear about anyone else. And in the end, the actor signed up for the project.
- Thank God, I have not acquired the qualities and characteristics inherent in Bina. I am still Rowan Atkinson and therefore absolutely happy! I’m more of a dramatic actor than a comedian. And I don't feel the need to be funny and funny all the time. Sometimes you have to be yourself.
An interesting fact: the role of Maigret became the only one in his biography, where a character who spends a lot of time traveling by car never gets behind the wheel. Moreover, for the period of filming, Atkinson was completely banned from driving. For him, it became an almost unbearable test, because cars and auto racing are an important part of his life.
His personal collection of cars consists of rare and exclusive pieces: a couple of Aston Martin, Ford Falcon, McLaren F1, Morgan Aeromax, Morris Traveler oldtimer, Jaguar Mark VII - 1952 and others. Rowan Atkinson has written numerous articles for specialized auto publishers, and also won amateur racing at the popular TOP GEAR auto show.
- I really love cars. Especially the good old models, the historical ones. And racing. And speed. I don't even know where this passion came from. I don’t think, as a drug addict, I am obsessed with speed. Although I also love skiing and always choose the steepest slopes, it's not about speed at all. Well, I like to drive powerful beautiful cars. This is a pleasure, a pleasure for me. I am ready to talk endlessly about cars, so I was even invited to Top Gear, where I set the record for the fastest arrival among non-professionals, which I am very proud of!
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But the details of Rowan Atkinson's personal life are strictly prohibited. For many years he was married to the makeup artist Sanetra Sestri, whom they met in the late 80s, and in 1990 they got married. The couple have two already grown children - a son and a daughter. In 2013, it became known that the couple had separated, and Rowan was increasingly seen in the company of actress Louise Ford. By the way, the girl is twice younger than him.
Atkinson and Ford are still together, only the press does not know anything about their relationship: whether they got married, as they named their son, who was born to them in 2017, is all a mystery covered in darkness. The actor avoids social media, laughing it off:
- I do not post photos from my vacation on Instagram - why? To let the robbers know when I'm not at home? I'm not my enemy!
By the approaching adulthood, the actor is ready as never before:
- The good thing about the comedy genre is that old people can be very funny. And so types like me will always be in demand. At least I hope so. I try to please only myself and the audience. People who pay money.
The opinions of critics, friends and even members of my family for me in this case have a very conditional meaning. In general, for today, I am personally proud of only one film with my participation - “Four Weddings and One Funeral”. I hope, however, that he will not remain the only and last for me.
