August 2000
Source: New Woman
The Other Mr Bean
Lorien Haynes
Sheffield lad Sean Bean's gone South for his new film, but has
he gone soft, too?
Sean Bean's the original, professional Northerner. He seduced
buxom wenches with his Northern ways in Sharpe, and wore a daisy
chain in a very private place as that gorgeous gamekeeping bit
of rough, Mellors, in Lady Chatterley. So, what's he doing abandoning
his Northern roots for a good old cockney gangster knees-up in
his latest film Essex Boys?
Will you be allowed back into Sheffield after playing an Essex
lad?
(laughs) Yeah, it's a free country. But I had a great time in
Essex. A lot of people there are from the East End and I always
get on with East Enders.
So, you'd much rather watch EastEnders than Corrie?
No. Corrie's got more humour. It's more tongue in cheek. Then
again, they do have meatier roles to get to grips with in EastEnders.
Talking of meat, which do you prefer, Northern tripe and udder,
or Southern cockles and whelks?
I've never had an udder in my life! And I can't say I've had much
tripe, either. Do people really think that all Northerners come
home, sit at the table and say: "I'll 'ave a bowl of tripe
and udder?" (laughs) I think we've advanced a little bit.
As a Sheffield United supporter, how did it feel having your
'100% Blades' tattoo hidden by a West Ham one for the film?
It took a bit of getting used to, but it was my idea - it suited
the character.
Jarvis Cocker called Sheffield 'Sex City' - was he right?
It depends on exactly what he was thinking about at the time!
Essex girls are famous for them, but have you ever gone out
with a girl in white stilettos?
No, I haven't. The girls in Sheffield used to wear those white
cowboy boots with glitter tassles.
Urgh! Sounds nasty!
Yeah, but they're not as bad as sandals. I think sandals are horrible.
Especially with socks.
'Born in the North. Die in the North'. Comments please.
(laughs) Will I go back to there to die? I would want to be buried
there. All my family are up there.
And finally, were you pissed off when
the film Mr Bean came out?
No, because I thought it was going to disappear quietly. But then
it began to make my life uncomfortable. I started getting Rowan
Atkinson's fan mail. And when I gave my name on the phone I'd
say: "Mr Bean" and hear muffled sniggers. I wouldn't
mind if he wasn't such a nerd.
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