Rowan Atkinson's IQ: How Smart Is Mr. Bean in Real Life?

Behind Mr. Bean's goofy faces and childlike antics sits a seriously sharp mind. Rowan Atkinson reportedly has an IQ of 178 – quite the contrast from his most famous character, who is seen as silly and clumsy.

Strangely enough, playing Mr. Bean wasn't as easy as it looked. Despite the character's simplicity, Atkinson once called the role "stressful and exhausting". But there's no denying it put him on the map and opened doors to a remarkable career. But that role would become the stepping stone in his career. After his breakthrough, he managed to redefine his skill multiple times.

Atkinson turned what could have been a setback – his speech difficulties – into his superpower by perfecting non-verbal comedy. He's always been picky about his roles, too. After finishing a project, he typically takes time off to recharge before jumping into something new. His work in Blackadder showed fans a completely different side of his talent, and rumors of the show's return still pop up years after it ended.

Besides acting, Rowan Atkinson also tries to make a difference in society. As one of the pioneers in the industry, he aims to inspire younger actors coming into the game. He also speaks on issues affecting the film industry, often calling for change. Case in point, in 2005, he opposed the racial and religious hatred bill, fearing it might grant excessive power to religious groups to censor the arts.

5 Facts That Show The Brilliant Mind of Rowan Atkinson

• Impressive IQ Score: Rowan Atkinson's IQ is an impressive 178. This level of IQ places him among the intellectual elites.
• Electrical Engineering Degree: His strong academic background is a testament to his intellectual capacity. Atkinson earned an Electrical Engineering degree from Oxford's Queen's College, one of the world's most prestigious academic institutions.
• Character Creation: Atkinson is the mastermind behind iconic characters like Mr. Bean and Blackadder. He managed to craft a character so universally relatable that words became unnecessary. This required a profound understanding of universal human reactions, social awkwardness, and nonverbal communication, all of which demonstrate a strong emotional intelligence (EQ).
• Effortless Genius: Atkinson makes the difficult look effortless. While audiences see only the silly antics, each movement and expression is precisely calculated. He approaches physical comedy with scientific rigor, breaking down movements into constituent parts and reassembling them for maximum comedic effect. This is the work of a remarkably intelligent performer who understands exactly how to make the world laugh.
• Quick Thinking Under Pressure: During a flight in Kenya, the pilot fainted. Atkinson, with no flying experience, kept calm. He slapped the pilot awake, saving everyone on board. The pilot recovered and landed safely. This shows Atkinson's real-world intelligence in a crisis.

Rowan Atkinson’s Personal Life Meets His Genius

Rowan's expressive facial expressions and unique features have made him a famous actor globally. Interestingly, Atkinson's childhood was not as promising as one would have expected. Atkinson's father was a farmer, and his mother was a housewife. But one thing has always been constant with Atkinson: he loved making other people laugh. In fact, he began taking up characters when he was still a child. He would imitate his teachers and other adults. Atkinson had known from a very young age that he had distinctive looks and took that as an advantage.

Atkinson was way smarter than other kids in school. Notably, he was very good at technical sciences. He had no problem internalizing difficult formulas and solving complex problems. Consequently, his favorite subject was physics.

After finishing high school, Atkinson got into electrical engineering at the University of Newcastle. He would later on complete his doctoral work at Oxford. Electrical engineering is an intellectually demanding course that requires problem-solving skills, analytical thinking, and advanced maths.

During his undergraduate studies, Atkinson was still interested in acting. In fact, he was a member of the drama society of Oxford University. Atkinson began making strides in his acting career while still in college. He landed a radio show dubbed “People of Atkinson,” where he would interview different characters that he had invented himself. He also landed a spot on the Not Nine O'clock News program, a sketch show, which the audience received warmly.

As a result of his time in Oxford's theatres, the Mr Bean character was born. He invented this character while still completing his studies at Oxford. He made his first television appearance in 1989 on Thames Television. The character gained traction with the audiences and eventually, a full-length film was created in 1997, following a series of short film releases.

In 2003, Atkinson continued to showcase his creative brilliance by inventing another character in the film “Agent Johnny English” 2003. In this film, Atkinson made a parody based on the James Bond movie. In this role, he was an agent of British intelligence. It was so brilliant that he received an award at the European Film Awards.

Besides a High IQ, Does Atkinson Show Intelligence in Real Life?

Atkinson is a problem solver. For example, in 2001, he was on a family vacation with his family to kenya. While flying on the coastal strip of Kenya, the pilot lost consciousness with Mr Bean and his family onboard. Without prior training, Atkinson was able to take charge of the aircraft till the pilot regained consciousness. This was an extraordinary display of quick thinking and courage. This story is proof that Atkinson can perform remarkably well under pressure, which speaks volumes about his intelligence.

Atkinson's universal appeal is another sign of his real-life intelligence. Most actors tend to gain fame in the geographic locations that understand and relate to their craft. Atkinson was able to understand this and come up with a universal language that resonates with people from different cultures and ages.

In an industry that is constantly chasing after high-concept entertainment and complex storylines, Atkinson chose simplicity. In the Mr. Bean series, Atkinson would find himself navigating daily social interactions, approaching them with unconventional problem-solving. The simplicity of his characters allowed people to escape the complexities of daily life.

In addition, the fact that Atkinson does not use dialogue creates a timeless appeal. That way, a whole family can enjoy his films. In this area of his life, Atkinson shows his intelligence through relatability, effective use of physical comedy, timeless appeal, and the ability to resonate with different audiences.

As we mentioned earlier, Atkinson had speech difficulties which started in his childhood. For example, he has trouble pronouncing words that have the letters “B” or “P” in them. The fact that Atkinson was able to leverage this weakness and turn it into a strength from a very young age speaks volumes to his intelligence. From a very young age, Atkinson was strategic. He knew how to play to his strengths and therefore got into physical and visual comedy.

Rowan Atkinson's Score on the IQ Spectrum

Rowan Atkinson's IQ places him in the highest cognitive level a human can ever achieve. Statistically, this is an extremely rare level of IQ. To give you an idea, a 160 IQ is already in the top 0.003% of the population!

With such an IQ, Atkinson could join exclusive high IQ societies such as Mensa, The Triple Nine Society, and Intertel. He could also be a strong fit for the Epimetheus Society, which only accepts people in the top 0.003% of the population, equivalent to a 160 IQ.

For context, an average person has an average IQ of around 100, with many people falling between 85 and 100. A score above 116 is considered above average. When people were relying on older classification systems, scores falling above 140 were considered genius or near-genius intelligence level.

People who fall between 85 and 114 are considered of average intelligence, and that's where many people fall. In fact, 68% of the population falls in this category. Next comes the bright category, housing people falling between 115 and 129. People in this category tend to do well in school and also professionally. Therefore, you are likely to find them in professions such as medicine, law, and engineering.

Starting from 130 to 144, this is where highly intelligent individuals lie. This category is considered moderately gifted. You will find scientists, mathematicians, and entrepreneurs in this category. They generally excel in problem-solving and have deep analytical skills.

People who fall between 145 to 159 are considered geniuses. Here you will get Nobel prize winners and inventors. They boast of advanced problem-solving skills and quick information processing.

Now we get to the group where Rowan Atkinson allegedly lies, 160 to 179. People who fall in this category are considered exceptionally gifted. These individuals have made groundbreaking discoveries and developed new ways of thinking. Here, you will also find the likes of Albert Einstein.

People with an IQ score exceeding 180 are in the elite territory. Only a handful of people in history have recorded such high IQ scores. Polymath and visionaries fall in this category. While these are some of the most brilliant minds to ever exist, it comes with a downside- these people find it hard to relate to the average person, and so they might experience some social challenges.

Rowan Atkinson’s Intellectual Pursuits Beyond Acting

As we have established in recent years, being book smart is not the only measure of being intelligent. Therefore, here are Atkinson's pursuits that further show his intellect beyond what meets the eye;

If you've had a treat of hearing Rowan Atkinson speak, you will agree that it's truly spellbinding. Atkinson's intelligence can be seen in his decision to buy the Mclaren F1 in 1997. At the time Atkinson bought this vehicle, not many had an interest in it. But his extensive engineering background and analytical mind made him see its value. Notably, there were only around 100 cars or so available at the time of his purchase. In an interview, Atkinson revealed that when he bought this car, it was generally considered a millionaire’s car, but when he sold it the value had risen to billionaire car status.

Atkinson is not one to keep quiet on issues plaguing the wider society. For instance, he has always been outspoken about the need for greater national sovereignty and how the European Union serves to diminish this.

Atkinson also holds a very controversial view on the adoption of electric vehicles. In an interview, Atkinson carefully decoded the talking points revolving around the adoption of electric vehicles. Atkinson said, “I love electric vehicles - and was an early adopter. But increasingly I feel duped.” Atkinson held that if drivers were willing to keep the same car for a long time and agree to use synthetic fuel, the adoption of electric vehicles would be unnecessary. Atkinson also held that emissions from electric vehicles could be 70% higher in the long run compared to fuel-powered vehicles. However, Atkinson's remarks fail to acknowledge that electric vehicles are enabling considerable environmental benefits in terms of emissions compared to internal combustion cars, which are heavily reliant on combustion.

Rowan Atkinson was very successful in his roles in Blackadder and Johnny English. His recent film “Man versus Bee” on Netflix is also popular around the world. But what makes Atkinson's characters stand out so much? He's very picky about his roles. He only takes up roles that align with his belief system. This is especially so after his career took off following the initial Mr. Bean series. It is also important to note that despite Atkinson’s success in his academics, he maintained a clear picture of the life he wanted for himself. His passion for the film industry served as his main motivation.

At the beginning of his career, he was rejected by many TV shows. Despite this, he didn't give up. This allowed him to excel in a field where many actors had generally stayed out of. Interestingly, not many are able to master non-verbal humor. Atkinson is proof that you don't need exceptionally good looks and a heroic body to become a movie star. His career is a reflection of hard work, passion, and dedication.

Apart from being a great actor, Atkinson is also an articulate and brilliant writer. He co-wrote Blackadder and Johnny English, where he demonstrates his humor, clever word play, irony, and sharp wit. Atkinson can smoothly switch from physical humor to complex verbal humor, which only shows his high IQ. His plays are not just about awkward humor- they have historical and cultural contexts. He is able to demonstrate his storytelling abilities through his mastery of language and skill.

His films are a stark reflection of his understanding of human behaviour. He is able to understand what makes the crowd tick by predicting their behavior. Atkinson's comedy is rooted in neuroscience and psychology. The brain interprets unexpected moments and reactions as hilarious since they go against our initial expectations. As a result, he came up with Mr. Bean, a character who is an embodiment of a grown man in a child's body. His perfect comedic timing, coupled with the exaggerated movements, is a clear demonstration of his understanding of human psychology. Each action is a result of a calculated decision to maximize the humor. And that's why he's able to create relatable comedy.

Rowan Atkinson displays his intelligence by being outspoken about social and political issues. In 2012, Atkinson came forward to condemn the UK decision to criminalize free speech. The UK law explicitly prohibited threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour. According to Atkinson, the term insulting is very broad and subjective, therefore making it become subject to misuse. Atkinson clearly highlighted incidents where individuals have faced legal action for seemingly trivial reasons.

Atkinson commented on the issue because it directly relates to his work as a comedian. He said that comedy is heavily reliant on satire, uncomfortable truths and all about pushing boundaries. Therefore, putting such a law into action would limit a comedian's scope of practice due to fear of legal repercussions. Atkinson said,” We must be able to insult each other.”

For instance, in Blackadder, Atkinson highlights the absurdity of war by satirizing British history. Additionally, his use of physical comedy can make him use gestures and facial expressions that might be insulting to some.

How High Is Rowan Atkinson's IQ Compared to Fellow Actors?

Rowan Atkinson's high IQ places him in the same space as James Wood. Wood has an outstanding IQ of 181. You may recognize him from some of his famous films such as “Ghosts of Mississippi,” “Casino,” and “Once Upon a Time in America.” His love for intellectually challenging characters highlights his level of intelligence.

You'd also be surprised to find out that Atkinson's IQ is close to that of Marilyn Monroe’s, who stands at 165. Interestingly, both individuals were drawn to simple characters, which made it hard to believe that below the layers lies incredible wit. Other actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Ashton Kutcher are also intellectually gifted, averaging at 160.

Leonardo DiCaprio starred in Titanic when he was only 19 years old. This movie has remained timeless, which only highlights his genius. Beyond Titanic, DiCaprio has also taken up other intellectually challenging roles in films such as The Wolf of Wall Street, Inception, and The Revenant.

Matt Damon is definitely a genius, evidenced by his Harvard education and his intelligent characters. He was the smart guy in films such as Good Will Hunting and The Martian.

Ashton Kutcher, on the other hand, hides his intellect beneath his charm. Kutcher has a good mind for business. In fact, he was an early investor in big companies such as Twitter, Uber and Airbnb, making him strategic and calculated. In addition, Kutcher has a biochemical engineering degree.

It's clear that the film industry has many geniuses hidden behind the lifestyle and characters. Sometimes actors might not demonstrate their intellect in their characters, but if you really look beneath the surface, you realize that it's not as easy as it seems. Rowan Atkinson has been able to develop a character he invented 2 decades ago. His mastery of his craft, academic background, and personal life all reflect intellectual superiority.

Did you expect Rowan Atkinson's IQ to be 178? Engage with us in the comments section with your views! Scroll down a bit.

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