What historic artefact does Sean Bean own from Sharpe?
Sean Bean has revealed that he owns a prop from Sharpe that dates back to the Napoleonic Wars.
Sean Bean owns the sword he used in iconic TV series Sharpe – which actually saw battle in the Napoleonic Wars.
The 66-year-old actor became a household name as fictional soldier Richard Sharpe in the action-packed ITV period drama that ran from 1993 to 1997.
As a memento, Sean was gifted the sword he used for his fight scenes which was made during the 19th century by highly skilled Birmingham sword cutlers and his uniform and every now and again he gets the weapon out at home for some swashbuckling.
Speaking at a screening of his new TV series Robin Hood, he said: “I've been given a few things over the years. I've been given my sword from Sharpe and my uniform. The sword was made in Birmingham, from Birmingham steel.
“The sword that's the original cavalry sword that was used in the Napoleonic Wars. So I've got that at home and I get it out now and again.”
Sean does more sword fighting for his role as the Sheriff of Nottingham in MGM+ series Robin Hood – which is available to stream now - up against Australian actor Jack Patten, who plays the titular hero who steals from the rich to feed the poor.
The Lord of the Rings star admits he loves getting to fight on screen and shooting those types of action roles.
He said: “There’s a lot of battles, a lot of swords, horse riding, Normans.
“We then had the sword fighting; me and Jack had some great fights. I love that aspect to the job.”
“It’s always a great time to bring it out again. It’s one of those ageless stories. Nobody has done it for a while.”
It’s been 31 years since Sean played Sharpe on screen and 44 years since since Richard Sharpe first swaggered on to the page in novel Sharpe’s Eagle.
Now, 24 books later, Sharpe creator Bernard Cornwell has not made the promise that “Sharpe will ride again” following the release of his latest book Sharpe’s Storm, although he admits he might change his mind in a few years’ time and bring the roguish officer out of retirement.
Cornwell, 81, said: “I just don’t know, because I’ve lived with Sharpe for so long now. It’s been 44 years since he appeared in public. And he’s been with me every day of that time. I’m sure that three or four years from now I might think, there’s a story there. Take his sword off the shelf.”
