Game of Thrones star Sean Bean named Best Actor at International Emmy Awards for portrayal of transvestite in The Accused

He’s best known for his roles as warriors Boromir in Lord of the Rings and Ned Stark in TV’s Game of Thrones so Sean Bean’s casting as a transvestite in The Accused raised some eyebrows. 
However, the hardman’s portrayal of English teacher Simon and his alter ego, Tracie, won him widespread acclaim and award nominations, culminating in a win at the International Emmy Awards in New York on Monday. 
Sean, 54, received the award for Best Actor from actresses Taryn Manning and Jackie Cruz at the Hilton, New York.

What a transformation: Sean Bean picked up the Best Actor award at the International Emmys in New York on Monday for his portrayal of transvestite teacher Simon and his alter ego Tracie in BBC One's The Accused

The handsome actor looked dapper in a navy three-piece suit and brown shirt as he accepted the top honour. 
Sean beat Shinichi Tsutsumi for In Yasu - A Single Father's Story, Heino Ferch from In Anatomy of Revenge and In Mandrake Especial’s Marcos Palmeira to take home the award. 
He shed his tough-guy image to portray the transvestite who gets involved in an affair with a married man which leads to a brutal crime of passion.
The Accused, which examines the British justice system, airs on BBC One in the UK.

A worthy winner: Sean beat off stiff competition to win the prestigious award at the ceremony in New York

The first series of the legal drama, written by Cracker creator Jimmy McGovern, starred Peter Capaldi, Christopher Eccleston and Mackenzie Crook.
Bean, whose episode aired in series two, previously 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 at the BBC, said about Bean: 'He's playing a transsexual, a brilliant story, untold I think on mainstream television.'
It has been 20 years since Bean first became famous playing Colonel Richard Sharpe in ITV Napoleonic drama Sharpe.

Dapper: Sean looked handsome in a three-piece suit and overcoat as he walked the red carpet at the International Emmy Awards on Monday

He went on to star in first film in the hugely successful Lord of The Rings’ trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring. 
Bean has become as well known for his life off screen – having married and divorced four times.
He wed first wife and high school sweetheart, Sheffield hairstylist Debra James, in 1981, before marrying second wife Melanie Hill, who played Aveline in the sitcom Bread, months after his divorce in 1990.
They were together for 16 years, married for eight, and had two daughters, Lorna, now 20, and Molly, 17. They divorced when Bean allegedly had an affair with a barmaid.
Bean soon married Abigail Cruttenden, who played his wife in ITV's Sharpe. They had a daughter, Evie, in 1998 but split just 18 months later.
He split from fourth wife Georgina Sutcliffe in December 2010 after two years of marriage.
He is currently dating 29-year-old actress Ashley Moore. 

Warrior: While Sean first found fame over 20 years ago, younger viewers will recognise him from Game of Thrones where he played warrior Ned Stark in the first season