Rowan Atkinson’s life from previous career to younger girlfriend amid new Netflix show success
Rowan Atkinson’s Man Vs Baby has been a hit with Netflix viewers this week – but what is going on in the actor’s life off screens?
Rowan Atkinson is a British acting icon so it’s no surprise that his latest role has been a huge success with viewers, just days after its release. The beloved Mr Bean legend, 70, stars in the new Netflix four-episode comedy, Man Vs Baby, which landed on the streaming platform on Thursday, December 11.
The show sees Atkinson take on the role of Trevor Bingley as he unexpectedly becomes a guardian to an abandoned infant in London. The sitcom has only been out for a couple of days but has already soared to the top spot on Netflix, highlighting how captivated audiences remain by the beloved actor.
Man Vs Baby has so far scored a 80 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes with the description for the show reading: “After a disastrous experience housesitting a high-tech mansion hampered by an inconvenient insect, Trevor Bingley is now looking after a luxurious London penthouse, with another unlikely, un-asked-for companion.”
As Netflix fans continue to devour Man Vs Baby this weekend, here’s everything you should know about the legendary Rowan Atkinson’s life away from the screens.
Unexpected career
While most primarily recognise Atkinson for his comedy work, breaking into acting was not actually his original plan. Instead, the actor actually first pursued electrical engineering at Newcastle University and embarked on a PhD at Oxford University when he discovered his love for performing, the Mirror reports.
Rowan Atkinson stars in Man Vs Baby which is now on Netflix(Image: Netflix)
During his Oxford years, he met the writer of Four Weddings And A Funeral, in which Atkinson made a brief appearance, and also co-penned the beloved Blackadder.
Stutter
The Mr Bean icon has lived with a speech impediment throughout much of his life but discovered that it bothers him a lot less whilst he’s on stage.
Sadly, Atkinson generally avoids the spotlight regardless and he also steers clear of numerous interviews due to his stammer.
He told Time magazine: “It comes and goes. It depends on my nerves, but it can be a problem.
“I find that when I play a character other than myself, the stammering disappears. That may have been some of my inspiration for pursuing the career that I did.”
Mr Bean
Beyond his unforgettable role in the Blackadder series, Atkinson’s early work centred on the wordlessly chaotic character of Mr Bean.
It’s believed that Mr Bean’s persona draws from nine-year-old Atkinson’s experiences of school bullies who tormented him with cruel nicknames such as Doople and Greenman and said he resembled an alien.
Speaking to The Independent, he said: “There’s a lot of Mr Bean in me. He’s socially inept, selfish and has no manners – yet he can be sweet, innocent and well-meaning.”
Personal life
Atkinson was previously married to makeup artist Sunetra Sastry who he first met during filming of Blackadder’s second season in the 1980s.
Sastry worked as makeup artist for his co-star Stephen Fry, but it was not long before Atkinson formed a bond with her, and they tied the knot in 1990.
Rowan Atkinson met his now-girlfriend Louise Ford while performing in West End play Quartermaine’s Terms(Image: Getty)
The couple were married for 24 years and welcomed children Benjamin and Lily before divorcing in November 2015.
Their divorce came while the couple were halfway through building an £11 million property in Oxfordshire.
Aktinson is now dating his current girlfriend Louise Ford, who he met in 2013.
The pair met whilst working on the West End production Quartermaine’s Terms while Ford was dating comedian James Acaster.
Ford, who is roughly 30 years younger, has starred in Horrible Histories, The Windsors and Crashing.
The couple welcomed their darling daughter Isla in December 2017, when Atkinson was 62-years-old and have chosen to keep her away from the public gaze.
Man Vs Baby can be streamed on Netflix now
