His big break came in 1993 in the BBC series, ‘Sharpe’. Bean, 47, has played 
a number of villains including Trevelyan in the 1995 James Bond film, 
‘Golden Eye’. He stars in ‘Outlaw’ by director Nick Love, in cinemas from 9 March 

My character in Outlaw is… 
Determined by what Nick [Love] created in the script. Bryant [the character] 
has just returned from Iraq. He is floundering and disillusioned by what he 
sees around him – lawlessness and a system that has failed him, coupled 
with a family that has fallen apart and carrying the residue of what he has 
seen over there. 

The film is about violence but does not advocate violence because… 
I don’t think Nick advocates vigilante groups. It’s a last resort. The characters 
get a rush from it, a sense of excitement, achievement and self-respect. I’ve 
been in a few punch-ups. People of my age – a lot of us have. 

If I weren’t talking to you right now I’d be… 
Doing my house up. I’m just trying to rearrange the furniture. I moved 
in about nine years ago but never really sorted it out. 

A phrase I use far too often is… 
“I’m not bothered any way”. It’s quite dismissive but I’m not bothered 
any way. That’s why I say it. 

I wish people would take more notice of… 
My films. No. Err. Each other. We should listen a bit more. I do it too. 
I get my penny’s worth in and end up not listening sometimes. The mark 
of a good actor is one that can listen. 

The most surprising thing that happened to me was… 
Becoming an actor. I had no intention of being an actor. I was quite good 
at it. I was pretty capable at other things but never any good at anything. 

A common misperception of me is… 
That I am a tough, rough northerner, which I suppose I am really. But 
I’m pretty mild-mannered most of the time. It’s the parts that you play 
I guess. I don’t mind it. I’m not a tough guy. I’d like to act as a fair, 
easy-going, kind man at some point. 

I am not a politician but… 
I’m glad I’m not. I’m not too trusting of them. There have been some good 
ones like Tony Benn. He’s from the old school. I went to see him with my 
Dad when he was in Yorkshire. My Dad’s quite left wing and well read up 
on stuff like that. 

In a nutshell, my philosophy is this: 
Listen to people and treat people as you find them. There’s an inherent 
goodness in most people. Don’t pre-judge people – that was me Mam’s 
advice anyway.