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Rowan Atkinson admits he doesn't like playing Mr Bean

Albertina Lloyd
·Contributor
·2 min read
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 23: Actor Rowan Atkinson attends the "Johnny English Strikes Again" New York Screening at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on October 23, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
Rowan Atkinson doesn't actually like being Mr Bean. (Getty Images)

Rowan Atkinson has said he will not appear as Mr Bean again because he doesn’t like playing the comic character.

The 65-year-old actor will continue to voice the hit role as a cartoon – with a new animated movie in the pipeline – but confessed he found playing Mr Bean in person very stressful.

Atkinson told the Radio Times: “It’s easier for me to perform the character vocally than visually. I don’t much enjoy playing him. The weight of responsibility is not pleasant.

“I find it stressful and exhausting, and I look forward to the end of it.”

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Mr Bean is a clown-like character based on physical comedy with very little dialogue, who first appeared in 1990 starring in his own ITV sitcom co-written by Atkinson and Richard Curtis.

UNSPECIFIED, ENGLAND: Rowan Atkinson as Mr Bean as part of the 1999 Red Nose Day Campaign (Photo by Comic Relief/Comic Relief via Getty Images)
Rowan Atkinson as Mr Bean as part of the 1999 Red Nose Day Campaign. (Comic Relief via Getty Images)

He has gone on to become a beloved character around the world starring in two feature length movies and appearing live at the London 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.

The animated children’s series was launched in 2002.

Rowan Atkinson as Mr Bean at Buckingham Palace to launch the new Mr Bean DVD and to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the character's creation.
Rowan Atkinson celebrating Mr Bean's 25th anniversary in 2015. (PA)

Atkinson confessed the only character he had ever enjoyed playing was Blackadder.

But he cast doubt on speculation that a reunion special of BBC sitcom may be in the pipeline.

Atkinson said: “I don’t actually like the process of making anything – with the possible exception of Blackadder.

As Captain Blackadder Rowan Atkinson and Right: TONY ROBINSON As Private Baldrick British Actors Stars of the BBC TV series 'Blackadder' Stars of the BBC TV series 'Blackadder', 19.09.1989. (Photo by Photoshot/Getty Images)
Rowan Atkinson as Captain Blackadder and Tony Robinson as Private Baldrick in Blackadder Goes Forth. (Photoshot/Getty Images)

"Because the responsibility for making that series funny was on many shoulders, not just mine.

“Blackadder represented the creative energy we all had in the 80s. To try to replicate that 30 years on wouldn’t be easy.”

Read more: Sir Tony Robinson casts doubt on those 'Blackadder' reunion rumours

Historical sitcom The Black Adder first aired in 1983, and ran for four series until 1989, set in various eras throughout history.

Blackadder appeared in several one-off specials, the last of which aired in 2002 as part of a sketch marking the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

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