Hunky Bean embraces his feminine side

Well known as the epitome of rugged masculinity on the big and the small screen, Sean Bean, star of hits such as The Lord of The Rings, Troy, Goldeneye, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, and Sharpe, is making a move into the world of transsexuals in a courtroom drama being made by the BBC.

In the new series of The Accused, Bean will cast aside the manacles of his rugged persona and embrace his deeply hidden feminine side by donning a blonde wig, makeup and skirt.

He takes the part of Simon, an English teacher searching for love, who in a separate existence is known as Tracie.

Bean said: "I've wanted to work on a Jimmy McGovern drama for a while and I think this cracking script really delivers a powerful, emotional drama for the audience."

Ben Stephenson, Controller of Drama Commissioning at the BBC, has confirmed that Bean will feature in the third episode of the four-part show. He said: "He's playing a transsexual, a brilliant story, untold I think on mainstream television."