One of England’s most versatile actors, Sean Bean, has ventured out in drag to prepare for his new role as a transvestite.

I must have been pretty good, no pictures turned up in the Press. Someone even complimented me on my shoes

The actor, 53, appears on-screen wearing a blonde wig and make-up later this month in award-winning BBC1 legal drama Accused, penned by Jimmy McGovern.

Asked how he prepared for the role, Mr Bean said: “By walking round in high heels in the kitchen at home ... and one night I went out ... arm-in-arm with my middle daughter.”

The star said of going out incognito, in full gear: “I wanted to find out what it felt like, whether I’d be able to pull it off and have the bottle to function in that situation.

“I must have been pretty good, no pictures turned up in the press. Someone even complimented me on my shoes. I’ve still got four pairs of size-10 heels lying about my house. I forgot to give them back.”

Mr Bean said the role of schoolteacher Simon and his alter-ego Tracie was the most demanding he has ever played, partly because of the full body wax.

Among other roles, Mr Bean is mostly known for playing Boromir in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and British Colonel Richard Sharpe in the TV series Sharpe.

Other credits include Golden Eye (1995), Ronin (1998), The Essex Boys (2000), Troy (2002), National Treasure (2004), The Island (2005) and the HBO series Game of Thrones.