I feel like Rowan Atkinson could have pulled off a role as Bilbo Baggins really well, if he was offered that role; he really has that British wise elderly man look to him.
He should get an honorary oscar, similar to Jackie Chan, for his decades of service in the comedy genre. From Mr Bean to Johnny English to Blackadder, he has made 3 whole generations laugh together. What a legend.
Rowan Atkinson is probably the only actor I can't "figure out". He was explaining things the whole episode and I still feel like he is mysterious somehow. Anyway. Just a feeling. Thanks for the episode.
I hesitated to click on this because i've never seen an interview with him when he's the slightest bit light hearted, even when he was on a children's TV show! That's why he's a professional 'actor'. One of the best maybe? 🤨🤷♂
The best MR. Bean bit is when he's trying to get asleep. So, he pulls out this big photo of lots of sheep to count. Of course he takes a shortcut by counting all the sheep down length and then by width. He puts the numbers in a calculator and mulitplies, and as soon as he sees the answer he passes out asleep! Genius whoever wrote that bit. 🤣
@@M1ggins That was hilarious, one of his friends betrayed him, the dynamite goes off and the silhouette of him reaching for his hat was there. I remember the roller-coaster too, he was un-impressed, annoyed and fell asleep.
I think Rowan Atkinson is such a legendary actor because of his objectivity. He can look at a plot, a scene, a character, or a simple concept and put himself in both the role of the observer, witnessing the event take place, as well as the actor, best portraying the idea at hand. He understands the difference in the discrepancies between something being funny or not and to what extent he has control over it.
I agree with you. Rowan Atkinson is a master of improvisation. I am amazed at how he can take any situation or object & put a comic spin to it. Jonathan Winters was also a great master of improvisation. Any role Rowan Atkinson takes on will always end in hilarity. He is a comic genius.
I can't remember where I heard him saying, whether it was on a show or in the behind the scenes of a movie or something, but he was saying, he just doesn't find his comedy funny. It apparently doesn't make him laugh at all. So... I guess that would certainly help with objectivity when you're analyzing your own stuff.
He’s done some stand up stuff that you can see on RU-vid….on one skit he plays a whole load of friends at a restaurant as well as the waiter. This was when he was new to his craft…he’s very intelligent.
Absolute Legend. To put this into perspective: I've taught English in some quite remote and rural parts of Thailand. Even there, in the farm lands of South-East Asia, most of the kids are familiar with Mr. Bean. His comedic greatness has touched people around the globe, regardless of culture or language.
The one where he talks about perspective in camera closeness really opened my eyes. Perspective is a huge role in knowing a story. Focusing on one thing is different from looking at the entire canvas. A lot of things can be learned from this. Mr. Atkinson, a living legend.
wait timestamp? was it the part he talked about Chaplin talked about looking closer everything is a tragedy but everything becomes a comedy with a long shot? I can't remember it word for word but was it something like that?
I remember my mum telling me about being in an airport in China during her travels. In the waiting lounge, with hundreds of mostly Chinese people there, a big TV screen started playing Mr Bean. Most of the people were glued to the screen and laughing all the time. I was pleased that a different culture reacts to it the same as we would in English speaking cultures. I am sure any culture adores Mr Bean
I saw something similar in Australia on a ferry out to an island. There was a tiny TV that started playing Mr Bean, and a whole group of Japanese tourists gathered round and were all laughing away. It was a really nice moment somehow, sharing comedy without having a common language.
Still today! Lots of Vietnamese students LOOOVE Mr Bean! The fact that there is no speech means that even if they can only speak a little English, they can still enjoy it. That's what makes Mr Bean so amazing. I've mostly seen them watch the live action one from the 90s, but more recently they watch the animated version that started in 2002.
@@atrudokht not always, some Americans are very well spoken with proper words used and some British are very bad spoken and can't really understand what they actually want to say.
When I was diagnosed with chronic PTSD after the Irak war, the one person that would put me at ease/relaxed was Mr. Bean. His great movies would make me laugh so hard, that PTSD would be out of mind for weeks at a time. Love his work and his amazing acting career!
I used to work in a refugeecamp where many Kurdish people from Iraq lived. When we had a movienight they choose to watch Mr Bean. No words are needed to have a good laugh with Mr Bean, no matter which country you are from.
Rowan Atkinson once gave a talk to my uni, he's honestly one of the most thoughtful and present people I have ever heard talk. He was also strongly averse to having his photo taken which struck me as strange, I suppose he really does inhabit his characters when he plays them, he's an absolute genius
@@ahpadt There is nothing called best engineering. but if u account the money u can get than software engg provides the highest pay rolls now . at that time idk
I love how unaffected by fame Rowan is, he really seems the same as some uncle you'd see at a family reunion except he's also an insanely great performer/actor. His diction is also so remarkable and impressive.
I'm from Bangladesh, and when I was a kid I used to see Mr. Bean continuously. It never gets old. Even now, everytime I see a clip of Mr Bean; I laugh like a child. He's a hero to us. To me. May Allah bless you our hero!❤️🇧🇩
I love how he speaks more quitely but is so well spoken and distinguished. He's such an incredible actor to be Mr. Bean, a character so different from his own personality. Thank you so much for all the great childhood memories you brought with your outstanding acting, Mr. Atkinson :)
i thought so too! i grew up with mr bean and hearing rowan atkinson talk in interviews is always such an experience. they are essentially polar opposites- and yet he portrayed mr bean so convincingly. its still so mind boggling to me how different he really is from this character. which should be common sense but still, mr bean and rowan atkinson are closely intertwined in my brain because he performed the character so convincingly like he really lives this role 24/7.
I still cannot go without watching Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean & the comic wit he presents. He is one of the most talented British actors of our time. His physical comedy cannot be equaled. I still watch his comic routines from the 90's and will never grow tired of them. Rowan Atkinson is a comic mastermind.
Peak Mr. Bean will always be when he performed Chariots of Fire at the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony. When I first watched that ceremony, seeing Rowan Atkinson on the piano when the camera zoomed up was the last person I expected so I lost it. It says a lot about a character when that character becomes a cultural icon. Mr. Bean truly saved the world, unleashing his wrath on one blue Reliant Regal at a time.
Wow. This was actually very educational in a way. This man knows humor. He's always cracked me up as a child, but hearing him break everything down is something else. I would love to see him in a dramatic role. I'm sure he would do very well.
He's very versatile as a Actor and a allrounder in many Things and a fine driver on the race track. Mr Bean is his best character because he's so many things in one character. Mr Atkinson is good.👨🏫🏖
I can listen to this man for hours. He always sounds like he knows what he's talking about, and his body language really appeals to me. He also comes across as a very clever guy, his alter ego Mr.Bean is the opposite of that. As a little boy ‘i’ve grew’ up with Mr.Bean, partly because my mother loved it. 25 years later I still can't get enough of it. Hopefully this sir will often appear on the silver screen.
I am the same i can watch him for hours he just has that charisma to him when i was young every time i went round my nans she had recorded mr bean on vhs from tv and i'll watch it everytime over and over and still love it i can now and then the cartoon ones came out that was good. He is a english hero i put him up there with michael caine and david attenborough as the best british people today.
@Maryo_Nicle7 Just because a person is a professor does not mean they are automatically more intelligent than others they are more knowledgeable in the subject they professor in yes but normal smartness is hard to determine as some of the best professor in the world are good in what they subject but can be a idiot when it comes to simple things and they tend to be more objective to new things or idea's and like to always be right but rowan is not like that as i know of as dont know him in person.
@@giggity4670 simply saying a person is an intelligent person doesn't automatically means they're downgrading others 🤣 chill, the comment is just simply complimenting him as his speech was eloquent, which is quite an impressive attribute to have and him being a professor must have at least contributed to that attribute
Back then, I only knew Rowan for his roles as Mr. Bean and Johnny English, but as I got to watch more of his content, I could see how greater he's in comedy beyond just slapstick, he can do literally EVERY type of humour and nail it to perfection.
The mark of him as a true genius actor surely lies in his ability not only to play a variety of unique and creative comedic roles as he of course does but also his ability to play a totally different role such as Maigret. Hugely talented chap!
@@aoisora1445 Even in The Lion King, you can still see some small resemblance of Zazu with Blackadder. Emile is just so different, if Mr. Bean is a polar opposite of Rowan Atkinson, then Emile is basically a younger sinister version of him, which, mind you, is not actually the real Emile, if you know what I mean. 😆
Hands down one of the greatest most legendary actors of all time. His stuff is so re-watchable. If you haven't seen it, go look up his stand up from the 80's. Magic.
@@abcxyz53 it's a shame you're not educated enough to understand intellectual comedy and particularly Blackadder which will go down in history (no pun intended) as one of the greatest comedies ever conceived.
I can't believe he's almost 70 - he looks AMAZING!! Also - i absolutely loved listening to him speak, haha, gives me a better idea of who he is as an actor. Comedy is extremely hard to do well - and he's left such a solid legacy! he definitely deserves some lifetime achievement award for his contribution! He's made some LEGENDARY characters!!
My son is 3 and can’t get enough of Mr. Bean. I’ve watched more Mr. Bean with him than I have my entire life. The scotches are an absolute classic. The cartoon is also hilarious.
With Rowans's articulate and soft spoken nature, you would think he would be in more movies that highlighted those traits. Would love to see him do another genre unless this is actually his true passion in acting
what i love the most about Mr Bean, is that he single handedly proved that you don't need dialog to convey emotions. and this is evident in the Mr Bean's Holiday, because despite there being a language barrier between him and the boy (who only spoke French), he still manages to form a bond with him. Rowan Atkinson is a expert at portraying body language and making it funny.
I believe the boy spoke Russian. Which added an extra barrier. Not only couldn't bean and the boy understand each other. Neither could understand the French people around them.
In his case it works, in others not so. It works for him because, as he said, his true self is the exact opposite of the silly characters he plays. The portrayal of acts in entertainment should be taken as entertainment only. The world is very different in real life. More often than not, the people who need dialog to convey their emotions, are expressionless introverts who can't work their facial muscles or body language to the extent that Mr. Atkinson can. In other words, his character is unique because he portrays the character being able to do something that logic tells us he shouldn't be able to do. You wouldn't find a Mr. Bean-like actor portraying Mr. Bean because in reality, such a character would not be well-received, and certainly wouldn't make it to the big screen. I have great respect for him as a comedian and he is a brilliant actor. Although I'd prefer to convey my emotions without dialog, society would disagree and I would be seen as antisocial and non-conformist, or worse, shunned.
Rowan Aktinson is one of the best funniest actors across the world. He saved me, with the depression i had and it always made me smile and put me in a good mood, when i was feeling really bad. Thank you Rowan❤️
So glad to hear that. How are you doing now? Rowan inspired me to travel the world. Seeing Europe in his work motivated me to see the world beyond the inner city that I grew up in. Amazing how he’s touched us in different ways.
That’s how I feel about Craig Ferguson. We all have one with our own conditions. Finding them is always the most magical part. I’m so happy you found yours, and I also agree that Rowan can bring just about anyone out of a slump. Comedy in general is just the most beautifully curing remedy ❤️
The great thing about Mr Bean was the clever (but bizarre) ways he'd get out of a situation or solve something. Also was rare to see silent comedy come back when it was all spoken by then.
“A wonderful sort of weary cynicism about the world…” - A PERFECT summation of the brilliance that is Blackadder (and why it will always be funny throughout time). Blackadder is the embodiment of what comedy is.
@@silafuyang8675 I agree with you. A few episodes into Blackadder (after hearing so much about it), I am hooked and found it more entertaining than Mr. Bean. But English is not my first language and my first few years of learning English back when I was a child in school was hard. So I guess you could say Mr. Bean was more appaling as it has no language barrier, which is why it had a big international hit and why literally everyone in the world knows him for it. And now that I am older, maybe a bit better profiecient in English, I could understand and relate more to Blackadder.
@@silafuyang8675 honestly the reason why Mr bean is popular is because since most people don't understand English, any jokes in Blackadder would fly over their heads.
@@Hitoshuratdn I also do not understand English very well, actually I hate English, it is a disgusting language. Anyway, Blackadder has much better acting (and excellent actors), more wit, historical satire and much more to it. Mr. Bean is more like a childish humour.
I loved Mr. Bean and Johnny English! I remember watching it since I was 8, I am 26 now and still watching it. Thank you sir for making my childhood so memorable.❤
I always had trouble getting to sleep as a kid, had terrible night terrors. my mum ended up getting me a bunch of video tapes of his work. I'd watch his work on repeat every night and it always helped me laugh and relax. Really made my childhood better.
Blackadder had the advantage of also starring Stephen Fry, in the last 3 series, Hugh Laurie in the last 2, and several cameos from Rik Mayal. Tim McInerny and Tony Robinson were in every series as well.
As a kid I of course loved his Mr Bean character and a show. But when I was around 15 my preferance changed from a gag humor of Mr Bean towards the social dissection in the Blackadder series. Rowan Atkinson knows comedy. Period.
As much as I laugh at Mr. Bean, I've always thought Blackadder was his better work. The skillful way he commands the English language... I guess a lot of that is down to Elton and Curtis' writing, but I love listening to Mr. Atkinson speak the words!
I like how he scholarly refer to previous works of other comedians in describing and relating them to his works. That's literally how you do academic literary review.
*"I don't do introductions"* You don't need to. Everybody knows and loves you Mr. Bean!! I grew up watching Mr. Bean and till this day I always die with fits of laughter. Also I loved you in Thin Blue Line. I wish you did more episodes. That was a very funny series.
He is so articulate, he chooses every word so meticulously and says them in a manner that fits the word. Most of the world know him for Mr. bean. But, his standup acts where he speaks a lot show a completely different side of his wide range of talents. And in Johnny English, it's almost as if he combines these two polar opposite 'not so much fond of speaking' and 'hilariously articulate' sides of his persona.
I think this was partially in part to Rowan Atkinson's stammer. (you can hear it a bit in this interview) Over-articulation and playing a character helps him talk more fluidly while acting. His way of saying 'bob' is an oft used example.
Love this interview, just a comedic legend talking about his legendary comedic stuff spanning across four decades plus from The Blackadder to Mr Bean to Johnny English to Man vs Bee and everything in between. At age 67, his comedic talents are as intact as ever, Man vs Bee is living proof of that, check it out, he still got it
Rowan - as a 12 year old kid I would recite Blackadder 2 & 3 line for line constantly with my dad and it was something only we shared our entire lives. Thank you for that time and fond memories of his laughter I still have today. Irreplaceable.
The limited series Maigret in which Atkinson plays a French police detective is phenomenal. Atkinson displays his impressive acting range in this dramatic series, playing directly opposite his best known roles.
Blackadder was really cool in the way that all the characters remained there and more funny than before, while still moving on to a whole new period. Even with the newer actors playing some of the era-based roles, they were definitely a nice addition and nice to see some come back.
What makes Mr. Bean so special is that it is a timeless show that we can still watch in any platform. Also, to know the amount of effort that he puts to it just to make it easier for the background crews shows how special of a project it is to him. An idea of an alien being thrown in Earth (which you can see in the introduction of every episodes) and the execution of ideas of how to make every movement funny and engaging, even the people around mr. Bean that was seem unpleasant to those people makes it even funnier yet relatable because if I am the one who will be sitting with Mr. Bean, i will also react the same way. 😂😂 but really, mr Bean is the definition of hard work pays of. It doesn’t need to look cool or great than the other, we the viewer won’t know the amount efforts you put into it nor we’ll be able to see the execution of every takes in it since I born on the 2000s. Thank you for being my childhood hero whether it’s the real adaptation or the animated version, the shows will always earn into my hearts and minds and sooner if I’ll be having my own kids, I’ll bingewatch the entire show with them!! 😭😭😍😍💕
The intro might also be Mr. Bean thrown out of Heaven. Like I'm actually not a christian person, so I don't believe in God, Heaven and stuff, but I like the idea, that Mr. Bean is such an exotic individual, that not even Heaven could cope with him. The light, that's shutting off after him might, or might not be from an UFO, it could also represent a heavenly light, or the Heaven's door, you know, people, who talked about their near death experiences often mention a bright light at the end of a tunnel, such a light might be what Mr. Bean fell from in the intro. Again, I'm not a person of faith, a believer, or such, just presenting an alternative to the usual "oh, it's an UFO". Yes, he could be an alien, but he could also be just a specifically exotic guy, who's simply not fit for Heaven. Unless of course Rowan himself specifically statted, that Mr. Bean is indeed an alien. Did he? Anyway, Mr. Bean might be (and Rowan might or might not like it) his greatest work.
I loved watching Mr. Bean when I was growing up. Watching it actually makes u pay attention to the whole show and helps you catch the little things "Easter eggs" in other shows,movies or real life even❤
My god, this is the Charlie Chaplin of our time. Thank you Mr Rowan Atkinson for bringing Mr Bean and Johnny English to life. Can still remember scenes from Mr Bean movies. 😌 Glad we are all doing well and alive at these times
I have loved Blackadder with all my heart since I found it in the 90's, and I plan to love it until the day I die. Rowan Atkinson's live shows are peak comedy as well. Mr. Atkinson is among the greatest of his age, a true legend.
He's the proof that to be able to be a true comedian, you have to be smart, like real smart. His voice is also very calming and sounded really intelligent
I didn't actually think his new show Man vs Bee was gonna be any good. I watched it because he was going to be in it and didn't expect too much out of a short show like that, but he was still funny and amazing and I quite enjoyed it. Everything he's in he just does such a great job, truly a spectacular actor
Always loved the way Blackadder progressed through the story of descendants who lower in class each series but become more intelligent. So well written and a fun commentary.
I speak for all of us when I say that, we are ever so grateful, glad and happy for this mans contribution to cinema, film and entertainment! Thank you Rowan!
I bow to Sir Atkinson 🙏🏼 whenever I see him on screen, I literally feel like I'm in another universe, I just forget all my worries and responsibilities He is one of the greatest entertainer and an actor this world will ever know Love from Maharashtra ❤️
Mr. Bean and later on Blackadder were such a big part of my childhood. There’s not a single of Rowan Atkinson’s films/series that doesn’t make me laugh over and over again, even after watching them times and times again. Truly remarkable.
Rowan Atkinson is a hero of mine. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of me and my brother in our PJs, settling down to watch Mr Bean on VHS, and laughing until we ached.
Mr. Atkinson really understands the craft of acting so amazingly, he's so intelligent and well spoken i could listen to a podcast with him in for a long time
This man is a legend and one of the few truly brilliant comedic performers. I first saw him when I was about 7 or so. My grandfather put me on to him. Still to this day his act never got old like most entertainers from your childhood. It’s just timeless entertainment perfectly entertaining to old and young alike. That is a very rare thing to accomplish.
Rowan Atkinson always strikes me in interviews (which he does few of it seems) as a very down-to-earth, sober gentleman - not at all like any of his characters, which just goes to show what a great comedic actor he truly is!
i’m from america so most if not all of my friends had zero idea of who mr bean was when i was a child. somehow my grandma came across mr bean tapes at a garage sale and bought them for us to watch at our family farm house which we visited almost every other weekend. those tapes hold some of my best memories. the mr bean show was our favorite tradition as kids, our aunts and uncles and cousins joining in on this. we never got tired or bored of them no matter how many times we would rewatch the same 4 tapes. since then a lot of our family has changed, my grandma passed away, i’m not in touch with many family members anymore, but those episodes hold so much meaning and memories to me. so grateful that my grandma stumbled upon some tapes of a random show called mr bean that i can one day pass down to my children so they can enjoy and laugh at the same things i once did :)
