He’s always been keen to keep his private life under the radar, but Rowan Atkinson seemed keen to show off his new love as they stepped out in London on Monday night. The veteran comic actor attended the American Buffalo opening night after party with his girlfriend, actress Louise Ford. The 60-year-old kept close to the pretty brunette, 32, as headed home after the star-studded bash following the opening night of the latest take on David Mamet’s play.
The funnyman, famous for his turns as bumbling mute Mr. Bean and Blackadder, appeared to have smartened up his act and opted for a tailored navy suit, with matching tie and crisp white shirt. Louise looked chic in a blue jumpsuit and cream jacket. During the evening they had mingled with the likes of Sienna Miller, whose partner Tom Sturridge stars in the play alongside Damian Lewis and John Goodman in the production. Rowan and Louise have been dating since last year after first meeting while performing during the 2013 run of comedy Quatermaine’s Terms.
The new romance blossomed after Rowan’s 23-year marriage to Sunetra Sastry came to an end. The Mail revealed in February 2014 that the pair had been estranged for some time before he filed for divorce. The pair had met in the 1980s when she was working as a make-up artist at the BBC. They share two children; daughter Lily and son Benjamin.
In an interview shortly before he met Louise, Atkinson revealed he has a certain kinship to the lonely, single characters he plays. He said: ‘I’ve played quite a few of these sad, isolated bachelor figures – Bean is the most obvious. And I think I do identify with them or aspects of them. He also added during another interview: ‘There’s only one thing more important than not talking about your domestic life and that’s not talking about why you are not talking about your domestic life.