Sean Bean

Yes.

Boromir.

I kissed her, but I think I was her enemy?

Sheffield United F.C.!

I suppose the closest I came is a horses' hoof landed on my head. And it did actually! When I was filming SHARPE. And I injured my neck, and I was pretty close, yeah. You can see it on film, yeah. It was a series called SHARPE, yeah. SHARPE'S JUSTICE, I think.

That's only a 25% deathrate then, innit? That's alright!

That would be nice. Yeah. But I'm not sure. I guess that will be the main role, wouldn't it? So I don't know. Good idea though.

YES, many, many fond memories. And just fascinating, watching such an artist at work. He's a great man.

I filmed in the Crimea, which was in 1992, which at that time, I think, the Berlin wall was just coming down, so it was quite a turbulent time, so many good memories there, of all the cast and crew that I worked with. It was quite a wonderful experience. It was pretty basic, and you'd get home at night, and it was like staying in a sanitarium they'd converted into a hotel, you'd find a lot of cockroaches in your bath, yeah. And we'd get food parcels sent out, suitcases full of food, because the food was so... I don't know, just a load of slop, like dog meat, you know? So we'd send out for biscuits, these meals that kind of astronauts have in foil packets and we were surviving on that. It was really 'ard but really funny at the same time. I was there for 6 months every year for 3 years. I guess I lived there for 3 years.

I sometimes see Daragh O'Malley and John Tams. I don't see them as often as I'd like to, but they're good pals. We went through a lot together.

Robert Baratheon. He's from Yorkshire. That's why. Why not Aragorn? If Robert got ahold of you, he'd crush you. You'd be careful not to get caught.

Oh yeah, he did, didn't he?

HAHAHAHA!

exactly.

I guess Mark Addy, I see him on occasions. It's a funny job actually, because you're all thrown together for an intense period of time, and then everybody goes home, it's a strange business in that way. But we always bump into each other from various productions, on the same kind of circuit.

Sheffield, I suppose.

I suppose as Victoria said, someone's approached me in a pub and asked me if I'd come and live in their house.

I said "When?"

Glasses, wallet, chapstick, moneyclip.

I'm not reading any books at the moment, which I don't know why, because I like reading books, but I'm probably going to go and buy one now. And me favourite book, it's an old book, called The World of Little Foxy, by Norman Smithson, and it's about this young lad, you know, young kid growing up in Yorkshire, all the fun and frolics he gets up to. Just a really nice, cheerful book.

I still play the piano a little bit, not very much, I wish I had kept it going you know? But it's just time I suppose. But perhaps I'll get some piano lessons when I get back to London and see if I can resurrect the little I did know, I'm not very good, but I do try. And I guess Chopin is my favourite, Chopin and J.S. Bach.

Yes.

Yeah.

I mean, I knew it was coming, you know?

But when I read it, you know, it just comes out of the blue and was a nasty shock. Especially after Ned Stark thought he'd got some agreement between Joffrey and the various factions, and for them to renege on that deal was pretty shocking.

The scene was shot in Malta, in this big square in Malta, I think they built it, like a big public square, and it was good, it was weird, you know? Because they made a cast of my head with hair on it, I've got some pictures of me holding my head. And it was fun. I don't know, you kind of just have to imagine what it's like to have your head chopped off, Ann Boleyn and how she must have felt. But it was the manner in which it was done, it was all the more tragic for that.

I guess that would be SHARPE, you know? The Napoleonic soldier.

And thank you very much!

I don't know, ongoing hopefully! You should tune, all of you!

I used to get his fan mail, actually! I think they had the wrong address. I have gotten a couple of letters meant for Mr. Bean aka Rowan Atkinson. These letters would say things like "You're so funny, you make me laugh, with your big rubbery face" and I would say "you can't mean me!" Whenever I call people up and they say "who's calling" and I say "Mr. Bean" and you can hear people giggling on the other end of the phone... he's got a lot to answer for, that Rowan Atkinson.

Oh, it's good, it's great! Especially because it's so popular, it's like, quite unique really. It was such a big hit. But I think I've seen him. I think my head looks a bit square innit.

Hahaha!

They've not, I've seen people with t-shirts on, and I've said it myself. Wait, I guess they have. A few too many drinks, and one says "one does not simply this" or "one does not simply that." It's a line I say in Lord of the Rings, innit? One does not simply walk into Mordor. It's a great line because you can apply anything to it. It's immortalized.

Well, it's a complex story, of a man trying to discover who he is, where he's from, what his previous life was. He gets flashbacks and he's trying to put the pieces together. And I guess that's why you see him in various different roles, various times of his life, and he's been told that he's not who he thinks he is. It's a psychological thriller with action. It comes from the characters, it's not action for the sake of action, people find themselves in very desperate situations. It's a very fast moving thriller.

I don't know?!

I mean, how am I supposed to know? Does anybody know? I don't think he's mine.

HAHAHAHAH!

Because he's not mine!

Little bastard!

I once walked onto the wrong set. I was doing Lady Chatterley's Lover, this was in the 90's, and it was like a studio, I had just had my lunch break and I walked back on set into the Enchanted Garden Set, everybody was dressed in the same clothes, I sort of realized I was on the wrong set and wandered off. I was a little bit tired. I just saw all these actors that I didn't know, and I was like "wait a minute" - because it all looked the same, except it wasn't my film.

Hahaha! Yes.

Probably a Guinness.

Probably - you just reminded me actually, I need to trim it tonight.

Well I do!

Probably every 4-5 days.

Probably in the Woodlands, in a wood. I kind of like gardening, I like being outdoors in the garden and nature around me, wildlife.

I don't think I did. But I knew of it.

It was a BBC drama called Joey and Spansky. I was about 23. Yeah.

I talked to Howard, Howard Gordon, I guess it was through my agents, and they mentioned that Howard would like to talk to me about this project, and I said of course, knowing Howard and all the great work he's done, I was, you know, delighted to be asked to be part of it, because he explained the premise of it and all these takes on multiple identities and it seemed a very fascinating idea. I was thrilled, you know, to play Martin Odum, and his various creations.

Strawberry.

Or Raspberry Ripple. Yeah. I'll go with that one.

Yeah, that'd be good. That's be good fun. I've never ridden a dragon before!

Yes, that was great, a great experience working with the Wachowksis. Because they both direct together, you know? It's fascinating to see them work. It's just a wonderful world they've created, very surreal, magical sometimes, corrupt universe. It's very detailed. It's difficult as I've not seen the finished product yet, but it was a wonderful experience to work on! It comes out in February, I think.

I start from scratch, yes. I guess you draw upon life experiences, people or characters that you've met in the past, it comes from lots of different areas, but the idea is to draw upon endless ideas. I think there's a bit of everyone in everyone, you know? We all take things from other people, and they all kind of rub off on us.

We did a good scene with me and Viggo, where we just sat together chatting about our past and where we grew up and where we came from, you know, discussing how much was at stake at that particular point in the film. I always remember that. I enjoyed working with Viggo very much, I enjoyed working with everyone, but Viggo and I got on very well together.

I've got quite a few, actually.

I like chocolate. Yeah. I do like chocolate.

And I guess it's that and tomato soup.

And tinned custard. With bananas.

And I guess that's it really!

I love milk, as well.

And milkshakes. Mmm.

Mashed potatoes. Yeah. Meat & potato pie with gravy. Like a Cornish pasty. With Henderson's relish, yes. That's very important to me. It IS!

I guess they're different mediums, they both have their pros & cons, you know? But I would like to do more theater, it's just that sometimes it takes quite a while and it's very intense, but it's a big thrill, it's exciting doing live drama. And I did perform in Romeo & Juliet, I was Tybalt, but I didn't have any leather on. That was Hugh Quarshie. But it was a modern day production, yeah, and that was at the Royal Shakespeare Company back in 1985, 86, sometime around then.

I guess Ned Stark!

I'll tell you what I would infiltrate: Camden Council in London. To find out their plans...

Muwahahaha.

I guess the humor, the people, and the particular blend of humor more than anything.

Probably, yeah! Why not?

Neither!

It's pronounced "Shawn Bean."

As in kidney or runner!

Yes, I think that was a possibility some years ago, but unfortunately it never came to fruition. But it would have been interesting, and very exciting.

Yes.

And he sells very good fish & chips.

On their knees!!!!!

Oh that was one of the most exciting experiences of my life! It was a real, just, it was unbelievable. It was an incredibly fantastic just to be on the pitch wearing a Sheffield United kit, trying to score penalties! My grandad and my father were there, in the crowd, so I was kind of waving at them. Sheffield was playing Manchester United in the FA Cup, and we all went onto the pitch at halftime to kind of play a bit of foot and take some penalties, it was full of 45,000 people, and I think the teams were waiting to come on after the sendoff, and they couldn't get me off the pitch. I was so exhilarated. So we were holding back Sheffield United and Manchester United. The referee was getting a bit pissed off. I just didn't want to leave the pitch. The crowd was good, yeah! Especially from the Sheffield United Fans, and I am eternally grateful for that. And the Manchester United fans were a good lot, a good bunch.

I got a watch, they gave me a watch at the end, an Omega watch, which needs repairing in case anybody out there... and it's inscribed on the back "Issued to Sean Bean, 006" and I think it's 1995. Yeah! And that's right on the back.

Yeah, that happens on occasions, you know? But fortunately there's been nothing too drastic, but they're usually very well-choreographed, very well-thought out. And there are stunt guys, a great bunch of people, very talented bunch, and they know exactly what they're doing. And I feel very safe with them in their company. But yeah, it's good fun, that. Someone stabbed someone in SHARPE, and it went through his body. That was on film as well! It was one of the early SHARPES, eagle or rifle, maybe, in Russia in the Crimea, and the sword actually went like that

gestures to midsection

He was alright but it was a pretty shocking moment, because there were no hospitals around there, no ambulances, so if you got injured, it was pretty bad. But I've cut my hand open, you just kind of get on with the job, I split my knuckles open and got 5-6 stitches in them, on a set, and I went back and got back into the scene. I mean, that's not a big deal.

No, it's not something I'd winge about, I'm not complaining. I'm very fortunate in my career. The people that like my work and enjoy my work are the people who make me what I am, I suppose!

It was an accident! And we were just slipping around on this boat, it was in Los Angeles in a studio on a boat on rockers, hydraulics, there were wind and rain machines, it was very slippery and chaotic conditions, and it was just an accident, he just slipped and whacked me in the eye and I had about 35 stitches inside and out. Just out here, and in here. So the next day we carried on filming and they shot me from the other side in profile to finish the scene. They gave me a suit at the end. I suppose that's compensation.

About 4.

(It's this brilliant kind of condiment, relish. You sprinkle it on your chips or your meat pie.)

Stay tuned!

1) I did apologize to Frodo, didn't I? Or I told somebody to tell him I was sorry. And fuck Jon Snow.

2) That's a terrible question! I want to stay alive, and thrive!

The big one. The mountain-sized Tyrion.

Could be fun!

I can't remember any crashes, because we had ex-Grand Prix racers driving the cars and they were brilliant, some pretty hairy moments going down sidestreets with just an inch next to each side of the car, fast... Thrilling.

I think it was all a dream. I didn't die? That's probably why I don't remember.

I think villains are kind of the more juicy parts, you can kind of get way with murder (literally) but it's been fun playing Martin in LEGENDS because he's a bit of both really. He uses quite brutal methods to achieve his aims, but he's a good guy.

1) Neck of lamb, which has been kind of stewed for a few hours. That's what me mum used to make. It's gorgeous, very kind of tender and just melts in your mouth.

2) Superhero, oh god... I was thinking Thor.

Baked beans.

Heinz baked beans.

Cold.

I thought Heinz was an american company?

Yes, I saw it a few months ago. I guess Boromir kind of, was one of my favourites. And the least favourite? Any that were too quick!

Yeah!!

I wasn't familiar with it really, I'd heard of the writer and his books, but it was kind of a new experience for me. And I read the books, and I guess that was it, really.

There was a scene with Bran near the tree - that legendary kind of family tree of the Starks, near the pool of water, and I enjoyed that scene. I enjoyed the scenes with Lena as well. She's great fun.

You mean anybody?

I'd say Nigel Clough.

Did they just sort of walk in? It's 'cause they're so small.

It was a bit strange, yeah, a bit creepy. We just kicked it around like a football!

Occasionally we bump into each other, you know, doing our rounds. Yeah. I bump into Viggo occasionally, or Orlando Bloom.

No, I did know I was going to get it, at the end. And I signed on anyway, because it was such a good part.

It's a fun show that will get you through the rest of the summer until Game of Thrones comes back. Also I don't die.

Ali Larter smells nice. Like honey and flowers.

If I played Dungeons & Dragons... I'd come up with my own, yeah.

I've got a couple of swords, quite a few swords actually. One of my favorite ones is my SHARPE sword, which is an original cavalry sword from the late 19th century.

MMM.

That sounds nice.

What?

No.

There was one where I went back to Nic Cage's house, and we'd had a few drinks, we were playing pool and he accidentally knocked over his prehistoric cave bear skull and smashed it. And he was really upset about it, and the next day went and buried it in a field.