Actor Sean Bean is a unique performer who always brings his A-game to the roles he plays. This seasoned actor currently stars alongside Stephen Graham in the thrilling BBC prison drama series Time.
Though Bean is probably best known for his performance as Ned Stark, the head of House Stark from HBO’s fantasy drama series Game of Thrones, that is far from the last role he has been in. From playing a villain on Snowpiercer to a priest on Broken, Bean has definitely been keeping busy delighting audiences.
Snowpiercer (2020) - Streaming On HBO Max
Based on the Bong Joon-ho-directed 2013 dystopian thriller of the same name, the Snowpiercer TV series arrived on screens in 2020. Sean Bean joined the main cast during its second season run and injected some much-needed energy into the series.
Bean played Joseph Wilford, the eccentric creator of Snowpiercer, the role which was portrayed by Ed Harris in Joon-ho’s 2013 original adaptation. He was able to bring a lot of enigmatic villainy to the role and injected the character with a lot of unforeseen depth that fans hope to see evolve.
The Frankenstein Chronicles (2015) - Streaming On Netflix
In the British period crime series, The Frankenstein Chronicles, actor Sean Bean plays river police Inspector John Marlott. The show is a reworking of Mary Shelly's classic horror novel Frankenstein and revolves around the mystery of a recently discovered corpse which is gruesomely made up from the body parts of eight missing children.
The 2-series run gained plenty of positive critical acclaim and Bean was able to lead the cast and give a solid, and typically brooding, performance.
Cleanskin (2012) - Streaming On Apple TV
In 2012, Sean Bean starred in the spy thriller Cleanskin. The title itself refers to a UK term meaning undercover operative, and Bean played an MI6 Secret Service Agent who is tasked with an off-the-books mission to kill terrorists who detonated a bomb in a London restaurant.
Cleanskin is another example of a Sean Bean project that didn’t receive too much high praise from audiences and critics alike but still allowed him to showcase his stellar acting.
Accused (2012) -
Each episode of Jimmy McGovern’s anthology series Accused focuses on a new character on trial for a crime. Sean Bean made an appearance in season 2's opener episode, “Tracie’s Story,” in 2012.
Bean plays Simon Gaskell, who has an alter-ego called Tracie. Tracie gets involved in a love triangle with fellow Time castmate Stephen Graham, who plays the love interest, and ultimately commits a crime of passion. As usual Sean Bean is able to showcase his range with a moving performance.
Possessor (2020) - Streaming On Hulu
The Brandon Cronenberg-directed Possessor is an intense cinematic experience. The movie itself is full of characters that engage the audience and drive this psychological sci-fi horror into unexpected corners. Andrea Riseborough stars as Tasya Vos, a specialized assassin who is able to control other people’s bodies in order to carry out high-profile hits.
Sean Bean stars as the wealthy CEO John Parse, one such target of Vos, who loses his daughter during the hit. He is a welcome face in this unsettling story.
Broken (2017) - Streaming On Britbox
In 2017, Sean Bean starred in another British series created by Jimmy McGovern. This 6-part drama series saw the actor appear as a Roman Catholic priest. The heart-wrenching series revolves around the priest, his local parishioners, and the hardships they face.
Sean Bean stars alongside Line of Duty veteran Adrian Dunbar and Marcella star Anna Friel. His performance throughout the series is natural and relatable.
Legends (2014) - Streaming on Hulu
American crime drama series Legends was a short-lived TV series for TNT and ran for just two seasons between 2014 and 2015. The show revolves around FBI undercover agent Martin Odum, played by Bean, who changes into a different person for every case he works.
Legends required Sean Bean to be able to perform as a myriad of different characters, a feat he was able to pull off perfectly. Bean's performance was a true highlight of the show.
World on Fire (2019) - Streaming On PBS Masterpiece
BBC British war series World on Fire is a drama series that tells a full story of World War II. What makes the show unique is it doesn't deal with just one side of the war but instead shifts scenes between those involved from the US, UK, Poland, France, and Germany.
Sean Bean plays shell-shocked veteran Douglas Bennett and is able to ingratiate himself beautifully into the ensemble cast doing what he does best, playing ordinary characters with incredible depth.
Dark River (2017) - Streaming On Prime Video
Sean Bean is particularly adept at performing in bleak dramas and in the 2017 British feature Dark River, he delivered another excellent performance.
Bean starred alongside Luther's Ruth Wilson, who played a woman struggling with her past following the death of her father. Bean, who features in flashbacks, plays her character’s sinister father. He has little dialogue in the movie but is still able to bring a tremendously unsettling presence to his scenes.
Pixels (2015) - Streaming On AMC+
Whilst it certainly wouldn’t be on everybody’s list of Sean Bean’s best or even memorable performances, his role in the 2015 arcade sci-fi comedy Pixels is another example of Bean's ability to cross genres. While he may not have many comedic roles under his belt, in this film he was able to have a little fun, even though his character was still very much an authoritative figure.
Once more Bean brings his oft-retained Yorkshire accent with him to the part as he plays SAS officer Corporal Hills. It’s a nice departure to see the actor in a more light-hearted role.