Rowan Sebastian Atkinson is a famous British actor and comedian, best known for his role as the hapless Mr. Bean, whose mostly silent yet physically expressive misadventures have made people laugh across the world, turning him into a household name. Yet despite Atkinson’s comic abilities, he overcame significant difficulties in his early life to get to where he is now.
Atkinson was born into a middle-class family in 1955. His father was a farmer and he was the youngest of four brothers. He majored in electrical engineering before attending the University of Oxford to pursue a Master’s Degree. During his time in Oxford, he suffered from a speech disorder: stuttering. Afflicted since childhood, it made him shy by nature and fearful of being bullied. Despite all the hardships, he never gave up and was determined to follow his passion for acting, soon joining a comedy group to learn the tricks of the trade. This opened up a new world to the young Atkinson and he quickly blossomed from his quiet shell.
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