A charismatic screen presence, Sean Bean has proven equally effective as romantic leads and villains. Born and raised in Sheffield in the north of England, the lanky blond actor has retained his Yorkshire accent which has helped to set him apart from his contemporaries.

Bean dropped out of school at age 16 and worked a variety of odd jobs before deciding to enroll in art school. Three schools later, he took an acting class at Rotherham College and found his métier, performing in such shows as "Cabaret" and "The Owl and the Pussycat". Deciding to pursue a career, he enrolled at the Royal Academy