Sunetra Sastry is a British makeup artist best known as the former wife of actor and comedian Rowan Atkinson, famous for playing Mr. Bean. She also worked in television makeup, including on the BBC comedy series Blackadder II.
Sunetra and Rowan married in 1990 and had two children, Benjamin and Lily. They separated in 2014, and their divorce was finalized in 2015. Since then, Sunetra has mostly stayed away from public attention.
Sunetra Sastry’s Profile Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Sunetra Sastry |
| Date of birth | September 5, 1957, according to most sources |
| Age | 69 years old as of 2026 |
| Birthplace | Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK |
| Nationality | British |
| Heritage | British and Indian |
| Profession | Makeup artist |
| Known for | BBC makeup work and being Rowan Atkinson’s ex-wife |
| Education | Reportedly attended beauty college in London |
| Former husband | Rowan Atkinson |
| Marriage | 1990–2015 |
| Children | Benjamin Atkinson and Lily Sastry |
| Residence | Reportedly London, England |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
Early Life and Parents
Sunetra Sastry was reportedly born on September 5, 1957, in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
One older source gives January 9, 1957, as her birthday, but the same source later uses September 5. Most available reports use September 5.
Sunetra Sastry comes from a mixed family background. Her father was Indian, while her mother was British. The names of her parents have not been widely reported.
Some reports say Sunetra faced racism while growing up because of her Indian heritage. They also claim her mother’s family did not accept her marriage to an Indian man.
There is little public information about Sunetra’s siblings.
Education
After finishing high school, Sunetra reportedly attended a beauty college in London.
According to reports, her parents originally wanted her to become a nurse. They later supported her decision to build a career in beauty and makeup.
The name of the college she attended has not been publicly confirmed.
Career as a Makeup Artist
Sunetra began working professionally as a makeup artist in the early 1980s.
She reportedly joined the BBC and worked behind the scenes on television productions.
Her best-known work was connected with Blackadder, the British comedy series starring Rowan Atkinson.
Her Work on Blackadder II
Sunetra Sastry worked in the makeup department on Blackadder II. She is reported to have worked on six episodes of the series.
Blackadder II starred Rowan Atkinson as Edmund Blackadder. Other cast members included Tony Robinson, Tim McInnerny, Miranda Richardson and Stephen Fry.
Her work on the show was also important to her personal life because it was during this period that she met Rowan.
Other Makeup Work
Sunetra has also been linked to makeup work on several other television projects.
Her reported credits include Smack and Thistle, Mr Bean Goes to a Première, and Mr Bean Takes an Exam.
There is limited public information about her later makeup career.
How Sunetra Sastry Met Rowan Atkinson
Sunetra reportedly met Rowan Atkinson while working on Blackadder in the 1980s.
She was doing makeup for actor Stephen Fry. According to the commonly reported story, Rowan asked Stephen to switch makeup artists because he wanted a chance to speak with Sunetra.
Stephen initially thought Rowan was unhappy with his makeup. He later realized that Rowan was interested in Sunetra.
Sunetra and Rowan reportedly began dating and remained together for about two to three years before getting married.
Sunetra and Rowan Atkinson’s Wedding
Sunetra Sastry and Rowan married in February 1990.
Their wedding reportedly took place at the Russian Tea Room in New York City. Stephen Fry served as Rowan’s best man.
The couple remained married for about 25 years.
Who Is Rowan Atkinson?
Rowan Sebastian Atkinson is a British actor, comedian and writer. He is best known around the world for playing Mr. Bean.
He is also known for Blackadder and the Johnny English film series.
Sunetra met Rowan through television work before Mr. Bean became one of his most famous characters.
Sunetra Sastry Has Two Children
Sunetra and Rowan have two children together: a son named Benjamin and a daughter named Lily.
Their son, Benjamin Atkinson, was reportedly born in 1993.
Their daughter, Lily, was born in 1995.
Who Is Benjamin Atkinson?
Benjamin is Sunetra and Rowan’s older child.
He reportedly attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, which trains officers for the British Army.
Stephen Fry has also been reported as Benjamin’s godfather.
Benjamin has generally kept his personal life away from the entertainment media.
Who Is Lily Sastry?
Lily is Sunetra and Rowan’s daughter. She has worked as a singer and performer.
She has performed at venues including The Pheasantry in London and has been associated with cabaret performances.
Lily also appeared in a few films when she was younger. Her reported credits include Tooth, Mr. Bean’s Holiday, and Johnny English Reborn.
She has also been reported to write music, poetry and stories.
Lily uses her mother’s surname, Sastry, instead of Atkinson. She has not publicly given a clear reason for this choice.
Sunetra and Rowan Atkinson’s Separation
Sunetra and Rowan separated in 2014 after more than two decades of marriage.
Around this period, Rowan was linked with British actress Louise Ford. Rowan and Louise had met while appearing in the play Quartermaine’s Terms in 2013.
Some reports made claims about the timing of Rowan’s new relationship and the end of his marriage. However, not all details have been clearly confirmed.
Their Divorce
Sunetra and Rowan’s divorce was finalized in November 2015.
Reports say the divorce proceedings took place at the Central Family Court in London.
Their marriage had lasted around 25 years.
Sunetra has not publicly remarried, based on available information. She has kept her relationships private since the divorce.
Rowan Atkinson and Louise Ford
After his separation from Sunetra, Rowan continued his relationship with actress Louise Ford.
Louise is known for playing Kate Middleton in the British comedy series The Windsors.
Rowan and Louise later had a daughter together. Some online sources give conflicting information about whether the couple married, so their marriage status should not be confused with confirmed details about Sunetra.
Where Is Sunetra Sastry Now?
Sunetra has maintained a low public profile since her divorce.
Several reports say she lives in London, but her current residence has not been publicly confirmed in detail.
There is also little reliable information about whether she still works professionally as a makeup artist.
Is Sunetra Sastry on Social Media?
Sunetra does not appear to have a widely verified public social media presence.
Some websites have linked Instagram accounts to her name, but there is not enough evidence to confirm that these accounts officially belong to her.
She generally stays away from public attention.
Sunetra Sastry’s Net Worth
Sunetra Sastry’s net worth is not reliably known.
Online estimates vary greatly. Some websites have reported figures ranging from less than $1 million to tens of millions of dollars.
There are also online claims about expensive property and a large divorce settlement. These figures are not supported well enough to treat them as confirmed facts.
For this reason, there is no reliable public figure for Sunetra Sastry’s personal net worth.
How Old Is Sunetra Sastry?
Most sources give Sunetra’s birth date as September 5, 1957.
Based on that date, she is 69 years old as of September 2026.
Facts About Sunetra Sastry
- Sunetra Sastry is a British makeup artist.
- Most sources say she was born on September 5, 1957.
- Her father was Indian and her mother was British.
- She reportedly studied at a beauty college in London.
- She began working for the BBC in the early 1980s.
- She worked in the makeup department on Blackadder II.
- She met Rowan Atkinson through her television work.
- Sunetra and Rowan married in February 1990.
- Their wedding reportedly took place in New York City.
- Stephen Fry was reportedly Rowan’s best man.
- Sunetra and Rowan have two children, Benjamin and Lily.
- They separated in 2014.
- Their divorce was finalized in 2015.
- Sunetra has kept a private life since the divorce.
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