Nobody Breaks Celebrities Like Rowan Atkinson

 Rowan Atkinson, one of the few people in the world who could crack up a crowd without saying a single word. But behind every great comedian lies an insane level of depth and precision. These are his greatest moments. I did a movie quite a while ago called Mr. Bean's Holiday. Oh yes. In which Mr. He's so casual that did a film. Well, does he sound like an an even bigger knob if he said, "Oh, well, of course you all know Mr. Holiday." You know, I'm trying to reduce my knob quotient. During an appearance on Stephen Colbert's show, Rowan Atkinson once told a story about the day Mr. Bean was born. Do you remember that night? Yes, I certainly remember the night. It was a one-off. It was a one night a one night review and I uh and I was asked if I wanted to do something and I couldn't think of anything and just stood in front of a mirror to be honest and I just started pulling faces I mean for one of a better term and I just sort of you know was doing this and then there was this idea of having a card got ending that I could Anyway, it was something like that. I'm sure the first question that that everybody would like to ask you is this funny name, Elton. How did you come by it? Well, I used to be in a band and uh I wanted to become a singer in my own right and I I wanted to choose a name and the saxophone player in the band was called Elton. So, I chose that name. Did you ever consider John Elton? No, you you didn't. Okay. Right. Well, let's start with those early albums then. One of which, I believe, was called simply Elton John. Yes, that's correct. When you didn't feel awkward with the name at all. I thought it sounded great. And you know, I thought people would be more interested in the music rather than the name. Now, let's take a look at this moment from the F1 Grand Prix when Rowan Atkinson answered Martin Brundle with an impression of him that flew right over his head. What would Mr. Bean reckon to all of this Formula 1 malarkey? Yeah. Uh well, he would enjoy it very much because he's uh because he's a car enthusiast as you know. Oh, that's right. Yeah, he had some magnificent cars, didn't he? Cars and you know, then he'd enjoy it. But anyway, it's fantastic to be here. I'm a guest of George Russell, which is, you know, you wasn't planned for me to be here on a weekend, you know, when he got pled, but but but here we are. Rowan Atkinson named dropping whatever next. I know. I know. I'm here, as a matter of fact, as a guest of George Russell. So, Oh, fantastic. Fantastic. So, that's how privileged I am. I did a credit card commercial in New York a few years ago, and I um it was this it was a story in which I had to play a bungling British secret agent. And there's this beautiful woman gets out of a limo in the middle of New York, and he sees her. And this shot, this scene was when I had to look at her as if I'd just fallen in love with her, right? And the director said, "Just imagine that you've just seen your wife for the first time." And my wife happened to be on set at the time. And she said, "No, no, no, no, no. That won't work." Um, tell him to look at her as if she's his new Aston Martin. Oh, and then it'll work. Oh, that'll work. And she was right. It It inspired me no end. I looked at her like no woman has ever been looked at. Really? Can you give us that look? I'm curious. Yeah. Is that it? In Blackadder, Rowan Atkinson played multiple roles. One of them being his very own Scottish brother. This character in particular was so weird the cast found it impossible to hold it together. Forget the whole thing. I'm going back home with Migy. Yes. Yes. Yes. Oh, show me the glen where the kipper roams free and together. Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I got too funny. Sorry. Seems so funny to me that he he addresses all the consulting with the wife. You see, I have to back me up. I'm sorry. Yeah, I know. I'm going to look at you. You're looking at me. I understand everything. Oh, I know what it's like. I mean, you got a difficult job for 45 miles commuting every day. Most people would think that being a comedian is not merely a job, but part of someone's everyday persona. It turns out Rowan Atkinson sees it a bit differently. Start with a quote that I read. Oh dear. From you. It says, "The problem with talk shows is that you're supposed to amuse. I generally rely on being interesting rather than funny. They just want people with wacky stories about airports, and I haven't really got any." How true. It It's true. How true? I haven't. So, how was Castra Bareport? No, I have no stories. No, I'm always rather confused as I think I know you are about whether I'm a comedian or whether I'm an actor. No, you know, or whether I'm not confused. You're not confused at all. Oh, I'll stop talking. I know you're boring now and I know you consider you not nodding off in no time. In this next clip, Rowan Atkinson breaks down the inspiration behind Mr. Bean and why he believes the character grew to become so successful. It was based actually on a visit on a holiday in Venice that I had in 1985 quite a long time ago. Wouldn't it be fun cuz I had already started exploring just doing purely visual comedy. I'd explored it on stage and I was interested in trying to put visual comedy through the character of Mr. Bean on TV and so that's where it started. Well, we the first ones we did were 1988 89 and then it sort of grew from there and now we've got this weird. It's like media people come up with all kinds of ways to promote a movie and as an actor that can get kind of overwhelming. Here's an iconic interview for the promo of Mr. Bean's Holiday when Rowan Atkinson had no idea what was going on. That was really good. Thank you. This side or this side? Uh, right. What? How do you want to sit down? No, no, no. I'll get behind you. I see. I just sit here and have to do anything. Coming up on Sunrise this morning, we meet the lovely Mr. Rowan and we talk about Mr. Bean's holiday. And all you have to say is if you miss it, you miss out. Simple as that. You ready? Okay. I'm good at this. Good. Okay. Interesting. Morning. Neil Sean here on Sunrise. A man who needs no introduction. Mr. Rowan Atkinson. And we talk about Mr. Bean's holiday. Remember though, Rowan? Oh, sorry. If you miss it, you miss out. I don't mind doing that again. Yeah. Okay. Morning. Neil Sean here on Sunrise. This morning we meet Mr. Rowan Atkinson and we talk all about Mr. Bean's holiday. Remember though, Rowan? What? If you miss it, you miss out. Oh, yes. Don't miss Rowan Atkinson on Sunrise this morning. You want to look at it? You got what? Are we allowed? I don't know. I've just lost all contact with reality. I remember early on in the life of Mr. Bean getting lots of letters from from people saying, "Oh, I'd love to have dinner with Mr. Bean." How hilarious that would be. He's a very very selfish individual. Very He's a child. I love your work, I have to say. But the thing that I loved the most, Blackadder. All right. Elizabeth and Blackadder. You were you became a sex symbol because of that opish. No, no, it's not opish. It's true. Look. Look. It was the It was just the whole persona and you really suited the outfit. I have to say. Yeah. I that costume. Yeah. Sadly, I haven't had occasion to wear prices. No marriage, no money, and more bills. For the first time in my life, I have decided to follow a suggestion of yours. If I may make some of a major crisis has arisen in your affairs. Yes, I know. Blackadder.