Sheffield legend Sean Bean in biggest starring role yet - on new '£20' note

The Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings and When Saturday Comes actor features in a new series of unofficial banknotes designed to show how our money would look if it better represented the cities where it is used.

The 60-year-old from Handsworth is the face of the £20 note as reimagined by Equity Release Supermarket.

He is emblazoned across the banknote, together with his signature and one of his most famous quotes ‘sometimes all you need is a leap of faith’.

The note also honours one of Sheffield’s most famous landmarks, the Peace Gardens.

York’s banknote features fellow acting great Dame Judi Dench, Leeds is represented by double Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams, and Lewis Capaldi is the face of Glasgow.

Equity Release Supermarket said its series of ‘Great British Banknotes’ was inspired by Euro notes, which feature designs specific to the countries in which they were issued.

“We’re not talking landmarks or world leaders, authors or aristocrats. This is all about the people who showed the ‘true grit’ of their home cities; musicians who defined a generation, athletes who inspired, and actors who showed Hollywood how it’s done – these are the modern-day heroes we need on our banknotes,” the supermarket explained.

Sean Bean was chosen to represent Sheffield, it added, because despite an ‘illustrious’ career he has stayed true to his Sheffield roots.

“To say Sean Bean has enjoyed an illustrious career is something of an understatement. The actor has fought as Richard Sharpe in the Napoleonic Wars, braved the dangers of Middle Earth and navigated the complicated politics of King’s Landing – very often dying in the process,” said the supermarket.

“However, even as he moves from one fantastical realm to the next, Bean has never forgotten his Sheffield roots. From his now-iconic Yorkshire accent to his short (and dramatic) stint on the board at Sheffield United Football Club, the actor has become synonymous with the city in which he was born.

“Despite his jam-packed schedule, Bean regularly finds time to return to Sheffield and still retains a deep sentimentality for the city. As far as we are concerned, there is no better choice for the Sheffield banknote than Sean Bean.”