Age: 67
male
Shaun Mark Bean (born 17 April 1959) is an English actor. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Bean made his professional debut in a theatre production of Romeo and Juliet in 1983. Retaining his Yorkshire accent, he first found mainstream success for his portrayal of Richard Sharpe in the ITV series Sharpe, which originally ran from 1993 to 1997. Bean's film roles include Patriot Games (1992), GoldenEye (1995), Ronin (1998), Don't Say a Word (2001), The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001–2003), Equilibrium (2002), National Treasure (2004), Troy (2004), Flightplan (2005), North Country (2005), The Island (2005), Silent Hill (2006), Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010), Black Death (2010), Jupiter Ascending (2015), and The Martian (2015). His television roles include the BBC anthology series Accused, Broken, Game of Thrones, and the ITV historical drama series Henry VIII and Legends. As a voice actor, Bean has been featured in the video games The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Sid Meier's Civilization VI, and the feature films Wolfwalkers and Mummies among others. Bean has also been the main voice over for O2 and their adverts for over 20 years having originally taken the job in 2002. In 2022, Bean won the British Academy Television Award as Leading Actor in Time, a BBC One drama.
The upcoming Max series is a multi-season, faithful adaptation of J.K. Rowling's seven "Harry Potter" books, promising a deeper dive into the wizarding world than the films. Targeting a 2026 or 2027 HBO/Max premiere, the decade-long series plans roughly one season per book. It follows orphan Harry Potter, who discovers he's a wizard on his 11th birthday and attends Hogwarts. The story centers on Harry's Hogwarts years and his fight against Lord Voldemort, who seeks immortality and control. Viewers will see Harry, Ron, and Hermione's adventures in detail as they face school, friendship, and Voldemort's rising threat. Producers stress a "faithful adaptation," meaning more screen time for book elements previously cut or condensed, possibly including Peeves and S.P.E.W. Featuring an all-new cast, J.K. Rowling executive produces to ensure alignment with her vision. Francesca Gardiner is showrunner, with Mark Mylod directing. The series aims to offer a fresh, authentic, and immersive experience for both long-time fans and new audiences.
