Rowan Atkinson Hates His Best-Loved Characters including Mr. Bean

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Rowan Atkinson, best known for playing Mr. Bean, has admitted he doesn’t particularly like many of the characters he’s portrayed. He even described Mr. Bean himself as selfish and someone he wouldn’t be thrilled to have as a houseguest. It’s surprising to hear that about such a beloved character!

Rowan Atkinson, known for playing Mr. Bean since 1990, recently shared some surprising thoughts about the character. According to Deadline, he admitted he actually dislikes playing Mr. Bean, even after revisiting the role in movies, cartoons, and live events. He revealed this while talking about his new Netflix series, Man vs. Baby, at a screening.

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I don’t care for Mr. Bean as a person and wouldn’t want to spend time with him socially. However, I enjoy watching him as a character – he reminds me of myself when I was a child, with a similar mix of self-centeredness and a quirky way of solving problems. Still, I wouldn’t want him as a houseguest.

Rowan Atkinson isn’t working as much these days. He’s been occupied with his Netflix series for several years, and his most recent film role was in Wonka. While Man vs. Bee was well-received by critics, he’s hoping the upcoming Man vs. Baby is just as successful. However, Atkinson doesn’t pay much attention to reviews, believing that true success comes from a different source.

I haven’t looked at any reviews of my work since the 1900s, so I’m not sure what critics think. Honestly, the only thing I care about is whether people enjoy watching my stuff and if they’d want to see more. That’s how I measure success.

‘Mr. Bean’ Is Undoubtedly Atkinson’s Most Important Creation


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Rowan Atkinson became a household name in the early 1980s with his appearances on the BBC sketch show, Not the Nine O’Clock News. His talent as a writer impressed the BBC enough to let him create Blackadder, a sitcom featuring Atkinson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, and others. Blackadder is widely considered one of the greatest comedies ever made, and it paved the way for Atkinson’s creation of the one-man show, Mr. Bean. The sitcom quickly gained a large international audience, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Despite creating a memorable, if somewhat awkward, character, Rowan Atkinson doesn’t actually consider him a personal favorite. Looking back on his career, Atkinson says that Trevor Bingley, from Man vs. Bee and Man vs. Baby, was the most enjoyable character he’s ever portrayed.

You know, when I think about the characters I’ve played, Trevor Bingley really stands out. He’s honestly one of the nicest! Most of my roles are… well, let’s just say they’re not exactly pleasant people. Take Mr. Bean – he’s totally self-centered and just causes chaos. And Blackadder? He’s basically a cynical, sarcastic, and pretty negative guy, if I’m honest.

Even my character Johnny English is a bit arrogant and not very likeable. Actually, I think Trevor has become one of my favorite characters to play. It’s nice to play a genuinely good person, which isn’t something I get to do often.

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2025-12-11 16:20