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Eternal James Bond: Sean Connery turns 90

Even today, the Scottish actor is considered by many to be the best James Bond. Connery, whose birthday is on August 28th, could never get rid of his 007 image.

The role of his life was both a blessing and a curse for Sir Sean Connery. As a secret agent James Bond he achieved world fame in the 60s. The films made him rich. But after his departure from the role it took Connery many years to establish himself as a successful actor beyond 007. Connery, who will turn 90 on Tuesday, could never get rid of his Bond image entirely.

Even today, the Scot is still considered by many to be the best James Bond. In the beginning, Bond inventor Ian Fleming was not at all impressed by the rough young man whom the filmmakers had chosen for the title role in “James Bond Chases Dr. No”. Former bodybuilder Thomas Sean Connery, who was born in Edinburgh on August 25, 1930 as the son of a cleaning lady and a worker, was not fashionable enough for the elite Fleming. But the author changed his mind and even gave Bond Scottish roots in the novels.

Before Connery started acting, he had worked as a milkman and truck driver. He posed as a nude model for art students at Edinburgh College of Art and – not even his well-trained Bond successor Daniel Craig can keep up – he came third in the 1953 Mr. Universe election. The young Connery turned down a possible career as a footballer because he saw more long-term potential in acting.

Degree of success unexpected

After engagements in theater and television, film roles were increasingly added. But it was Bond that really got Connery’s career going. “It was enormous. I would never have thought it then,” he said in 2003 on a BBC talk show. “Nobody had any idea what a success it would be.” The third film “Goldfinger” (1964) at the latest triggered a global Bond mania, which, however, annoyed Connery. After his fifth agent assignment “You Only Live Twice” (1967) he had had enough.

When his successor George Lazenby lost interest in Bond after watching a movie, Connery was surprisingly persuaded to make a comeback in “Diamond Fever” (1971). “I thought: man, for just 14 weeks of work that would be a good idea,” Connery later explained. He used the money to set up a foundation to financially support Scottish youths during their training.

“Never again Bond”, he is supposed to have said afterwards – and played him again. “Never say never” was the tongue-in-cheek title. The remake of the 1965 Bond flick “Fireball” is not part of the official Bond series and ran in 1983 in competition with “Octopussy” with Roger Moore. Connery, who always felt badly paid, saw this as an opportunity to wipe out the Bond makers.

Connery in Others Roles

Beyond 007, the actor was convincing as a rebellious soldier in the anti-war drama “A Heap of Great Dogs”, alongside his friend Michael Caine as an adventurer in “The Man Who Wanted to Be King” or as a desperate police officer in the psychological thriller “His life in my power” falls apart on a child abuse case. Critics praised these films, but they did not become box office hits.

Connery’s attempt to break away from the Bond image sometimes led to strange roles. In the trashy science fiction flop “Zardoz” from 1974, he only wore a jockstrap and black boots, plus a biker beard and ponytail. Less Bond flair is hardly possible.

It wasn’t until the mid-1980s that Connery really established himself in Hollywood. He was the cool swordsman Ramirez in the fantasy hit “Highlander”, delighted as a monk in the medieval thriller “The Name of the Rose” and amused the audience as the curious father of Indiana Jones. He kept his image as a sex symbol. In 1989 “People” magazine declared the 59-year-old to be the “Sexiest Man Alive” – ​​and in 1999 even named him the “Sexiest Man Of The Century”.

His acting performance as the tenacious cop in “The Incorruptible” earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. The Scot began his acceptance speech in 1988 with the words: “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, friends and a few enemies.” The uncomfortable Connery was notorious for suing studios. “I like fairness, it’s not just about the money,” he said in 1990 on the talk show hosted by Terry Wogan, “it’s also about principle.”

Knighted

In 2000, Queen Elizabeth II knighted him in his hometown of Edinburgh. And that despite the fact that Sir Sean had repeatedly spoken out in favor of Scottish independence. In his private life, the avid golfer Connery has been married to the painter Micheline Roquebrune, who has just celebrated her 91st birthday, since 1975. The two live in the Bahamas. His only son, Jason Connery, is from his first marriage to actress Diane Cilento.

The actor had his last film appearance in 2003 in the film “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”. Then he withdrew from the public. Sean Connery no longer gives interviews and has not interfered politically for a long time. Today you can only see him occasionally in photos and videos that his granddaughter Saskia Connery publishes on Instagram.

(WHAT / dpa)

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