January 06

Rowan Sebastian Atkinson's Birthday

Rowan Sebastian Atkinson, British comedian, was born on January 6, 1955. Frequently cited as one of Britain’s funniest comedians, Atkinson’s work has ranged from droll satire to slapstick, earning him a place as one of the UK’s most internationally recognizable funnymen.

Atkinson cut his teeth in comedy while attending Oxford, where he met longtime collaborator Richard Curtis. Soon he joined forces with other rising stars of alternative British comedy to form Not the Nine O’clock News, a comedic counterpoint to the BBC’s stodgy state-sponsored newshour. Not the Nine O’clock News pioneered the satirical news format that has since been popularized by The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.

From there, Atkinson was cast in the titular role of Blackadder, the epochal, generational sitcom. His portrayal of the cowardly, self-interested, opportunistic Edmund Blackadder (and three of his descendants) contributed to the show’s success and enduring appeal. In addition to his starring role, Atkinson co-wrote the show with Richard Curtis.

Atkinson’s remarkable ability to deliver the most inane and ridiculous lines with his trademark deadpan earned him a string of roles as ineffectual authority figures. Among the most notable of these were his roles as the vicar in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), the voice of Zazu the hornbill in Disney’s The Lion King (1994), and an inept store clerk in the British ensemble cement-mixer Love Actually (2003).

It is ironic, then, that the actor known for portraying overly imperturbable, rigorously routine authorities should find his greatest success in playing exactly the opposite. In 1990 Atkinson debuted the mugging Man-boy Mr. Bean. Over the course of fourteen televised specials and two feature films, Mr. Bean’s ridiculous misinterpretations of everyday tasks and events won him legions of fans worldwide. Drawing inspiration from Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and especially the French silent film star Jacques Tati, Mr. Bean’s wordless interactions with the world around him and his comically overexaggerated facial expressions solidified Atkinson as one of the most unique actors working in modern comedy.

To honor “the man with the rubber face,” might we suggest a soup honoring both his oh-so-British complexion and the character that brought him fame on the other side of the pond?

White Bean Soup

Ingredients

8 oz dried Great Northern beans
4 cups vegetable broth (plus an additional cup in reserve)
6 slices bacon, chopped
1 cup minced onion
2 stalks celery, minced

4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp lemon juice
salt and freshly ground white pepper, to taste
2 TB grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Rinse and pick over the beans; soak beans overnight in cold water to cover.
Cook bacon in a Dutch oven or stockpot over medium-low heat until crispy. Remove and reserve to use as a garnish.
Increase heat to medium. Add onion, celery and garlic to the bacon fat. Sauté until tender.
Add beans and broth, Simmer until beans are tender, about 2 hours, adding additional broths needed.
When beans are cooked, puree 1/4 cup of the soup in a food processor or blender and return to pot.
Adjust consistency with more stock or water if necessary.
Season with lemon the juice, pepper and salt. Serve garnished with Parmesan cheese and crumbled bacon.

Serves 6