Lily Sastry: 5 Shocking Facts About Rowan Atkinson's Daughter Who Ditched The 'Mr. Bean' Name

The world knows him as the silent, eccentric Mr. Bean or the bumbling secret agent Johnny English, but to Lily Sastry, he is simply her father, Rowan Atkinson. As of December 2025, the focus has shifted from the legendary comedian's iconic roles to his children, particularly his daughter, who has carved out a fiercely independent and multi-faceted career away from her father’s shadow. Lily Sastry, formerly known as Lily Atkinson, has deliberately embraced a different path, marked by a significant name change and a bold dive into the world of alternative performance and visual art.

This article delves into the latest updates on Lily Sastry’s life, exploring her career as a performer, her recent candid comments on her parents' high-profile divorce, and the fascinating, contrasting life of her military brother. The creative and personal choices she has made—from the West End stage to the art studio—reveal an artist determined to define her own legacy, distinct from the global fame of her famous father.

Lily Sastry: Full Biography & Profile

Lily Sastry, the daughter of one of Britain’s most beloved comedians, has established a compelling career as a performer and artist. She is known for her dramatic shift in professional focus, moving from acting to a unique blend of music, cabaret, and burlesque.

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• Full Name: Lily Grace Atkinson (Legally changed to Lily Grace Sastry)
• Date of Birth: 11 July 1995
• Age (as of December 2025): 30 years old
• Place of Birth: London, England, UK
• Nationality: British
• Parents: Rowan Atkinson (Father) and Sunetra Sastry (Mother)
• Siblings: Benjamin Alexander Sebastian Atkinson (Older Brother), and Isla Atkinson (Half-Sister, from her father’s relationship with Louise Ford)
• Mother's Profession: Sunetra Sastry is a renowned makeup artist who worked on the BBC.
• Known For: Actress, Singer-Songwriter, Cabaret Performer, Burlesque Dancer, and Visual Artist.
• Notable Work (Performance): One-woman show *Lily* (2016), Singles "Breaking Souls" and "MY TONE."
• Film Roles: *Tooth* (2004), *Mr. Bean’s Holiday* (2007)

1. The Intentional Decision to Drop the Atkinson Name

One of the most talked-about decisions in Lily’s public life is her choice to drop her father’s globally recognizable surname, Atkinson, in favor of her mother’s maiden name, Sastry. This move was widely reported around the time of her parents’ divorce, which was finalized in 2015.

The name change to Lily Sastry is seen by many as an intentional step to create distance from the immense fame of the "Mr. Bean" brand, allowing her to be judged solely on her own artistic merit.

Her mother, Sunetra Sastry, is a former BBC makeup artist of Anglo-Indian descent who met Rowan Atkinson while working on the set of *Blackadder*.

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By adopting the Sastry surname, Lily pays tribute to her mother while simultaneously signaling her artistic independence, a crucial move for any "nepo baby" seeking a genuine career in the competitive entertainment industry.

2. Her Shockingly Different Career Path: From Acting to Burlesque and Art

Unlike her father, whose career is defined by slapstick comedy and family-friendly humor, Lily Sastry has embraced a far more edgy and multi-disciplinary performance style.

The West End Cabaret Star

Lily’s early career included minor acting roles alongside her father in films like the 2007 hit *Mr. Bean’s Holiday* and the 2004 fantasy film *Tooth*.

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However, she quickly pivoted to the world of cabaret and burlesque. She studied at a cabaret school and debuted her own one-woman show, simply titled *Lily*, at The Pheasantry, a popular London dinner club.

Her performances are known for their unique blend of singing, dancing, and theatrical storytelling, often exploring deeper, more complex themes than her father's work.

The Singer-Songwriter and Visual Artist

Lily is also an accomplished singer-songwriter, releasing music under the name Lili Sastry. Her single titles, such as "Breaking Souls," "Angel Cries," and "MY TONE," hint at a more introspective and emotional musical style.

Most recently, she has been focusing on visual art, holding her debut art exhibition in London in December. This shift confirms her desire to be recognized as a professional artist across multiple mediums, not just as an actress or singer.

3. Candidly Discussing Her Parents' Painful Divorce

In a rare and candid move, Lily Sastry recently opened up about the emotional turmoil and "chaos" caused by her parents' divorce, which occurred after Rowan Atkinson began a relationship with actress Louise Ford.

The divorce, finalized in 2015, was a difficult period for the family. Lily shared her feelings publicly, describing a sense of being "trapped between worlds" and feeling like she didn't belong anywhere for a long time.

Her openness about the personal impact of the split provides a vulnerable, human perspective on the lives of celebrity children, contrasting sharply with the carefully curated public image of her father.

4. Her Brother’s Strikingly Different Career as a Military Officer

Lily Sastry’s older brother, Benjamin Alexander Sebastian Atkinson, has chosen a career path that is perhaps even more dramatically different from his father’s than her own.

While Lily is on the West End stage, Benjamin Atkinson is a British military officer. He is famously known for joining the Gurkhas Brigade of the British Army.

Ben’s training included a rigorous three-month course in the hills of Nepal, where he learned about the local culture and was put through tough mental and physical tests.

The fact that Rowan Atkinson’s son—the child of a man famous for physical comedy—is serving in one of the British Army's most respected and demanding units is a compelling detail that underscores the family's diverse and unexpected talents.

5. Why Lily Sastry's Independence Resonates Today

Lily Sastry's deliberate choices—the name change, the embrace of burlesque and visual art, and the public discussion of her family life—make her a compelling figure in the current celebrity landscape. She embodies a modern celebrity child who is actively resisting the mold created by their famous lineage.

Her career is a testament to the fact that the children of famous actors do not always follow the same path. By prioritizing her own unique artistic expression, whether through the emotional depth of her music, the theatricality of her cabaret shows, or the personal touch of her artwork, Lily Sastry is successfully building a foundation for a long-term career entirely on her own terms. She is not "Mr. Bean's daughter" but a powerful artist in her own right.