In a scene midway through Sharpe's Honour (1994) (TV), 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.
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'.
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).
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).
Made his professional stage debut in Romeo and Juliet (as Tybalt) at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury, England, in 1983.
Once played Romeo at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in streetwise-wearing biker's leather.
Presented the award for Duo of the Year to John Tams and Barry Coope at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. (4th February 2008).
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).
Since February 2004, has been living in a London hotel after a burst water pipe flooded his house.
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 awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree from the University of Sheffield in England, in 1997.
Was considered for the part of Kainan in Outlander (2008).
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.