- Never one to shy away from doing his own stunts, Sean carries a souvenir from his appearance in Patriot Games: during the climactic fight scene Harrison Ford accidentally cut him above his left eye with a boat hook, an injury which required 8 stitches to close.
- One of 30 successful applicants (out of a field of 11,000) to win a scholarship, he began studying at RADA in Spring 1981. He was awarded a silver medal for his graduation performance in Waiting for Godot in Spring 1983.
- First wife Debra James is his childhood sweetheart in Sheffield.
- His distinguishing marks are a black 100% Blade tattoo on his left shoulder -- a reference to his favorite football team, Sheffield United; and a tattoo on his right shoulder which reads Nine in Elvish - a reference to the nine members of the Fellowship in Lord of the Rings, all of whom got similar tattoos.
- He used to have a variety of jobs, including selling cheese in a supermarket, shovelling snow, and working as a welder at his father's steel fabrication shop before he discovered acting while attending an art course at Rotherham College.
- A lifelong supporter of the Sheffield United Football Club, Sean recently agreed to become a member of the club's Board of Directors.
- Only became an actor by accident - he planned a career as an artist.
- Has a shocking past - he used to dye his hair and wear make up.
- He replaced 'McGann, Paul' in the role of Richard Sharpe in SHARPE'S RIFLES (1993)after McGann was injured.
- In RONIN (1998) he claims to be an S.A.S. veteran based in Hereford. IN BRAVO TWO ZERO (1999), he plays an S.A.S sergeant and mentions that Hereford is his home base. Hereford (on the England/Wales border) is the site of the S.A.S. regimental headquarters, known as Stirling Lines.
- Starred in a UK TV series as a soldier during the Napoleonic wars by the name of Richard Sharpe. He subsequently appeared in a series of commercials where he would allude to his earlier role, saying things like, Sharpe idea. In THE LORDS OF THE RINGS, he continues the joke: after touching the Sword of Elendil he says, Still Sharpe.''
- The 006 character in GOLDENEYE (1995), Alec Trevelyan (Sean Bean) was originally written as a much older character and a mentor to Bond. The producers tried to get Anthony Hopkins to play the role, but when he refused they rewrote it to be a younger age.
- During filming of DON'T SAY A WORD (2001), he actually spoke to Michael Douglas and Famke Janssen on the cell phones.
- Receives an honorary degree from Sheffield Hallam University.
- He was a presenter at the 1995 BAFTA Awards.
- 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.
- 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.
- Made his professional stage debut in Romeo and Juliet (as Tybalt) at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury, England, in 1983.
- Appeared in Moby's video for We Are All Made of Stars (2002).
- Nominated for Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture at Screen Actors Guild Awards for THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. (2002)
Quotes- "I used to like a bit of flashy jewelry, but I've calmed down in that sort of way."
- On Tolkien: "About 15 years ago, and I didn't have a lot of work at the time. It was a big thick book to read waiting for the telephone to ring. I got quite into it."
Awards- Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards: Best Acting Ensemble, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (2004)
- Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (2004)
- National Board of Review: Best Ensemble Performance, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (2003)
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