In the Sheffield area of Handsworth on April 17, 1959, Shaun Mark Bean was born. His parents, Rita and Brian K. Bean ran a fabrication business where Bean’s mother worked as a secretary.
Despite being comparatively well off, the family decided to stay on the council estate because they wanted to be near their friends and loved ones.
Bean’s grandpa, Harold Bean Jr., was a former member of the Royal Navy who later turned pacifist. Bean also has a younger sister named Lorraine.
Despite having formal acting training, Bean has a natural acting approach that works for his portrayal of complex characters.
He has stated that initially comprehending the character is the most difficult aspect of acting, but once he has done so, he is instantaneously able to go into and out of character.
Sean Astin was astounded by his ability to change from a reserved actor on set to the warrior Boromir in The Fellowship of the Ring. Working with Bean has been hailed as a “beautiful thing” by directors Mike Figgis and Wolfgang Petersen.
Did Sean Bean know about Jon Snow?
As it turns out, actor Sean Bean, who portrays Jon’s on-screen “father,” Ned Stark, is also utterly ignorant of Jon’s parentage. Prior to the last season of the show, Sean acknowledged to Entertainment Weekly that he was truly unaware of the nature of the secret Ned had ever kept.