Sunetra Sastry (Rowan Atkinson’s Wife): Age, Family, Husband, Children, Career, Net Worth and More

Sunetra Sastry is a British makeup artist who became famous when she married the world-famous comedian and actor Rowan Atkinson, famous for his role as Mr. Bean. In the 1980s she was a professional make-up artist for BBC television, and was recognized for her contributions on popular comedy series like Black Adder. Sunetra was born in England to an Indian father and an English mother, and faced several social challenges growing up in Britain in the 1960s. However, this did not stop her from pursuing her love for makeup artistry and pursuing a successful career in the television industry. The couple remained together for over 20 years and they have two children, Benjamin Atkinson and Lily Sastry. Sunetra had always wanted to live a low-key and private life, even after being linked with one of the world’s most popular comedians.

Who is Sunetra Sastry?

Sunetra Sastry is a British make-up artist, who was once the wife of Rowan Atkinson, an actor and comedian. Prior to her fame through marriage, she worked in the make-up department for BBC productions and as an assistant on a few television comedy productions. She is also known as the mother of Benjamin Atkinson and Lily Sastry.

Sunetra Sastry Age

Sunetra Sastry was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England on 9 January, 1957. As of 2026, she is 69 years old. There are other birth dates reported but January 1957 is the most common. Her zodiac sign is Capricorn. She grew up at a time when mixed race families have been discriminated against in Britain. Her strong personality and private nature were formed by these early experiences.

Sunetra Sastry Height, Weight & Physical Appearance

Sunetra Sastry is 5 feet 5 inches tall. In her youth, she was frequently admired for her calm temperament and good manners. Though married to a world-famous celebrity, she enjoyed a natural and low-key life.

While there is no exact information regarding her weight, it is believed that she leads a healthy life.

Early Life and Family Background

Sunetra Sastry was born in England from a mixed culture family. Her father was an Indian and her mother was an English woman. In the 1960s, mixed race marriages were not encouraged in many areas of Britain. This led to Sunetra and her family reportedly being subjected to racism and social criticism.

Her mother was also alleged to have faced criticism from relatives for her marriage with an Indian. Sunetra overcame these obstacles and was raised in a loving family. Through these experiences she became emotionally resilient and self-reliant at an early age.

From the time she was a child Sunetra had an interest in makeup, beauty and fashion. Although her parents had wanted her to go into a more traditional field such as nursing, she chose to follow her path of passion in Makeup Artistry.

Educational Qualification

Sunetra went to school in England and then to a beauty college in London. She took up studying beauty techniques and make-up artistry professionally! Through her education she got to the television and entertainment industry, and worked with the BBC productions. The training developed in her confidence and skills in professional makeup application as well.

Sunetra Sastry Husband, Marital Status and Relationships

Sunetra Sastry met Rowan Atkinson at the BBC studios in the 1980s. They became slowly closer, and finally married on February 5, 1990. They were married in the Russian Tea Room, New York City. Stephen Fry has been suggested to have been Rowan Atkinson’s best man at the wedding ceremony. The couple remained together for almost 25 years and were one of the most private celebrity couples in Britain.

Unlike a lot of the celebrity marriages, Sunetra and Rowan remained out of the limelight a lot of the time. But later, it was revealed that the couple split in 2014 when Rowan Atkinson got involved with actress Louise Ford. They got divorced in 2015.

About Sunetra Sastry’s Husband “Rowan Atkinson”

Rowan Sebastian Atkinson (born in England, 6 Jan 1955) is an English actor, comedian, and writer. He went to Newcastle University to study Electrical Engineering and then to The Queen’s College, Oxford to get his Masters degree. He became a worldwide celebrity appearing in such memorable characters as Mr. Bean and Blackadder and later in the Johnny English series.

In February 1990, Atkinson married Sunetra Sastry, who is a makeup artist, and met her at the BBC in the late 1980s. They were married for 25 years, until late in 2015, when they divorced. During their marriage, they had two children together. In 2017, Atkinson had a third child with actress Louise Ford. His current girlfriend is Louise Ford, UK actress, and they have been dating since 2014, as of 2025. They are not wed but in a long-term relationship.

Sunetra Sastry Children

Sunetra Sastry and Rowan Atkinson have two children together. They have two children: Benjamin Atkinson, born in 1993 and Lily Sastry, born in 1995.

Benjamin was said to have gone on to become a soldier in the British Army, a very different career path to the one that was chosen. Lily gained public attention for her passion for the arts (acting, singing and performance). Later on, Lily’s parents divorced and she adopted the name Sastry as her last name. Besides, she became popular online due to her glamorous public appearances and music performances.

Sunetra Sastry Career Highlights

Sunetra Sastry began her career as a make-up artist in the early 1980s. She appeared on BBC TV shows and was recognized for her innovative make-up application. Among her best known works was the well-known comedy Blackadder II and the television movie Smack and Thistle (1988).

She had a wonderful career in the entertainment industry, which was helped by her work in television. She would prefer to work behind the scenes, and to be in the spotlight is not her preference.

In BBC she got acquainted with the actor Rowan Atkinson. Eventually, the two grew close and then they got married in 1990. Gradually after the birth of her kids Sunetra reduced her working hours and concentrated primarily on her family responsibilities.

Sunetra Sastry Net Worth

As of 2026, Sunetra Sastry’s estimated net worth is $15 million. Throughout her long career she became a professional make-up artist in the television industry, specifically for the BBC and worked on Blackadder II and the television movie Smack and Thistle (1988). She also reportedly received a payout in cash and property from her divorce settlement with Rowan Atkinson, which is a significant portion of her wealth.

Sunetra Sastry Social Media Profiles

Sunetra Sastry is not active on social media. She avoids social media like Instagram, twitter and Facebook. One of the reasons she has kept away from controversies and public gossip in her life is her private nature.

Conclusion

Sunetra Sastry is a British make-up artist and the wife of legendary comedian Rowan Atkinson. She studied Makeup Artistry in London and worked with the BBC productions in the 1980s. She stayed married to Rowan Atkinson for almost 25 years and together they had two children, Benjamin Atkinson and Lily Sastry.

Sunetra, even after being linked to one of the world’s famous actors, always preferred to stay away from media and enjoy her family life. Today Sunetra Sastry is revered for her dignity, quietness and family values. Her path from being a BBC make-up artist to the wife of a world-renowned comedian, is inspiring and unique.

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Refresh Date: June 3, 2026