Sean Bean grew up on a council estate in Handsworth, Sheffield, before going on to became one of Britain’s most successful actors.
The 65-year-old has appeared in countless films and TV shows, including Sharpe and Game of Thrones on the small screen and Lord of the Rings and GoldenEye on the big screen.
His latest project is Shardlake, a four-part Disney+ series based on the historical mystery novels by C. J. Sansom set during the reign of King Henry VIII, in which he plays Thomas Cromwell.
You may already know his dad Brian was a steel plater with his own business, while his mum, Rita, was a secretary.
You may also be aware he’s been married five times, has three children and lives with his wife Ashley Moore in Somerset.
And you probably know he’s a huge Sheffield United fan, has a propensity for uttering the word b****** on screen and a reputation for playing characters who meet a grisly end.
But below are some facts you may not know about the actor, from his boyhood dream to the neighbour who helped inspire one of his biggest passions in life.
His latest project is Shardlake, a four-part Disney+ series based on the historical mystery novels by C. J. Sansom set during the reign of King Henry VIII, in which he plays Thomas Cromwell.
![Sean Bean, pictured here at Handsworth Medical Centre in 2005, auditioned twice for the Role of James Bond, missing out first time to Timothy Dalton and later to Pierce Brosnan. He made such an impression the second time that he was selected to play Bond villian Alec Trevelyan, one of 007's most memorable adversaries, in the 1995 film GoldenEye.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/22/12/33/onecms_ee412ee5-62ce-438e-8b34-57261d3829a8.jpg.jpg?trim=0,88,0,9&width=800)
9. He nearly became James Bond
Sean Bean, pictured here at Handsworth Medical Centre in 2005, auditioned twice for the Role of James Bond, missing out first time to Timothy Dalton and later to Pierce Brosnan. He made such an impression the second time that he was selected to play Bond villian Alec Trevelyan, one of 007's most memorable adversaries, in the 1995 film GoldenEye. Photo: Sheffield Newspapers
![Sean Bean was once so scared of flying that to avoid taking a helicopter to filming during Lord of the Rings he climbed for two hours up a mountain each day. He told the Guardian how his fear was so great he 'used to have a lot to drink before I even got on the plane, then a lot to drink on it'. Strangely it was around 9/11, with the heightened alert of terrorist attacks, that he finally conquered his fear. He told the Guardian in 2022: "I thought: 'Why am I worrying about engine failure if there’s all this going off?' And somehow I got over it. I still can’t stand turbulence but I’m much better now, thank God.”](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/22/13/18/onecms_4d2fcad9-1f99-4c94-81af-f7a5433bf0d5.jpg.jpg?trim=0,0,0,163&width=800)
10. He used to have a terrible fear of flying
Sean Bean was once so scared of flying that to avoid taking a helicopter to filming during Lord of the Rings he climbed for two hours up a mountain each day. He told the Guardian how his fear was so great he 'used to have a lot to drink before I even got on the plane, then a lot to drink on it'. Strangely it was around 9/11, with the heightened alert of terrorist attacks, that he finally conquered his fear. He told the Guardian in 2022: "I thought: 'Why am I worrying about engine failure if there’s all this going off?' And somehow I got over it. I still can’t stand turbulence but I’m much better now, thank God.” Photo: Other
![Sean Bean's real name is Shaun Mark Bean. He adopted the Irish/Scottish spelling of his first name when he became an actor.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/22/13/02/onecms_dc754814-3071-4733-9b92-725c43ecf36d.jpg.jpg?trim=0,0,46,0&width=800)
11. His real name is Shaun
Sean Bean's real name is Shaun Mark Bean. He adopted the Irish/Scottish spelling of his first name when he became an actor. Photo: Sheffield Newspapers