Sean Bean gained international recognition opposite Harrison Ford in Patriot Games. He starred as Boromir in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Other recent projects include Ronin starring opposite Robert De Niro and Jean Reno and Don't Say A Word with Michael Douglas, Brittany Murphy and director Gary Fleder.

Bean just completed production on National Treasure for director Jon Turteltaub and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. The story centers around an expedition to uncover a treasure buried in the 1700's. Bean plays Ian Howe, the financier of the expedition, alongside Nicolas Cage. The film shoots in Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Los Angeles.

Bean, in the autumn of 2002, starred in Macbeth opposite Samantha Bond in London. He has received critical acclaim for his work as Macbeth, making the show the fastest non-musical to sell out in the West End. In 2003, Bean was seen in the indie feature The Big Empty with Jon Favreau, Kelsey Grammer, Daryl Hannah, Rachel Leigh Cook, and Joey Lauren Adams, which premiered at AFI. Bean also shot a cameo role in Henry VIII opposite Ray Winston and Helena Bonham Carter.

On television, Bean has starred in numerous productions, including The Sharp Series. His other television movies include Bravo Two Zero, Lady Chatterley, Clarissa, Prince, Tell Me You Love Me, and many more.

Bean has appeared in numerous stage productions for The Royal Court Theatre, Glasgow Citizen Theatre, and The Royal Shakespeare Company, including Romeo and Juliet Fair Maid of the West, and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Bean's additional screen credits include Tom and Thomas, Essex Boys, Anna Karennina, Goldeneye, When Saturday Comes, Black Beauty, Caravaggio, Lorna Doone, The Field, Stormy Monday and Windprints, among others.