A Celebration Of Sir Sean Connery As James Bond

By: Anders Frejdh

Published:
2017-08-25

Sir Sean Connery, the worldwide-known seven-time James Bond Scottish actor and passionate golfer, celebrates his 87th birthday on 25th August, 2017.

With this page, From Sweden With Love would like to extend our personal wishes to a great actor and living legend.

"Dear Sean - YOU are and always will be my favourite James Bond 007. Here's to good health & happy days for you and your family. And to the next [I believe sixth!] Hole-in-One! We salute you, Sir." - FSWL founder Anders Frejdh

Sean Connery golf Scotland

About Sean Connery

(Official biography)
Sean Connery began his theatrical career as an extra in the chorus, playing bit parts, and modelling. From those modest beginnings, he has become an international film icon. Many believe that his talent and appeal continue to improve with time.

His humble beginnings, growing up in a working class neighbourhood in Edinburgh, gave no indication of the achievements that were destined to come. Sean was born into a working class family in August of 1930. The oldest of two boys, he spent much of his youth working at menial jobs, just to get by. He left school at an early age and went to work fulltime.

Sean Connery in Edinburgh for the city's film festival in 2006. © Edinburgh International Film Festival. All rights reserved.

At sixteen, he enlisted in the Royal Navy. Like many young men in the Navy, he opted for a tattoo. However, unlike many tattoos, his were not frivolous - his tattoos reflect two of his lifelong commitments: his family and Scotland. After six decades, his tattoos still reflect those two ideas: One tattoo is a tribute to his parents and reads "Mum and Dad," and the other is self explanatory, "Scotland Forever."

After three years of Naval service, a long bout with a stomach ulcer shortened his "naval career". He returned to Edinburgh and seemed to settle into a life of hard work: bricklayer, lifeguard, and coffin polisher. Sean spent much of his free time bodybuilding, a pastime that eventually started his acting career. His hobby of bodybuilding culminated in a bid for the 1950 Mr. Universe title where he placed third.

From his early acting days until his first superstar role, Sean's stardom was certainly not an over-night success story. From his first work in modelling, bit theatrical parts, and chorus appearances, it was almost eight years before he was cast opposite Lana Turner in Another Time, Another Place (1958). It would be another four years before he first uttered those unforgettable words, "Bond, James Bond."

Connery skyrocketed to international fame as the suave, confident (and many say definitive) Secret Agent 007 in six of the James Bond movies over the next decade: Dr. No (1962), From Russia with Love (1963), Goldfinger (1964) (1964), Thunderball (1965) (1965), You Only Live Twice (1967) and Diamonds Are Forever (1971).

Sean Connery golf on the set of Diamonds Are Forever 1971

Sean Connery golf on the set of Diamonds Are Forever 1971

Sean Connery play golf on the set of Diamonds Are Forever. Copyright © 1971 Danjaq S.A. & United Artists Corporation. All rights reserved.

He then broadened his career with an Agatha Christie whodunit, Murder on the Orient Express (1974), John Huston's adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's adventure The Man Who Would Be King (1975), the medieval romance Robin and Marian (1976) and Peter Hyams' sci-fi film, Outland (1981). He resurfaced as a much wiser and more mature Bond in the 1983 adventure, Never Say Never Again.

The 90's brought such great films as The Hunt for Red October (1990) playing a Russian sub commander), 1993's Rising Sun (as an expert in all things Japanese), Dragonheart (1996), the successful contemporary action dramas Just Cause (1995) and The Rock (1996). In 1999, Connery starred in and produced (Fountainbridge Films) Entrapment, a love story-thriller, co-starring Catherine Zeta-Jones. The year 2000 brought what many have said to be one of his best films, Finding Forrester. Sean's latest movie, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, was released in 2003.

Many critics and fans alike have said that the quality of his acting has only improved with age. Certainly his personal appeal has. In 1989, at almost 60 years of age he was voted People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive. When advised of the award, Sean seemed to be unaffected as he replied, "Well there aren't many sexy dead men, are there."

Watch a clip from the BAFTA interview with Sean Connery in Edinburgh that FSWL founder Anders Frejdh attended:

Editor's note:
In August 2008, Sean Connery published his book Being A Scot which was also published as a paperback in 2009.

In April 2012, Sir Billi (voiced by Sean Connery) premiered in USA at the Sonoma International Film Festival. And in September 2013, Sir Billi got its UK cinema release and DVD release courtsey of Kaleidoscope Entertainment.

Sean Connery voice over as Sir Billi in Scotland

Sean Connery voice over as Sir Billi in Scotland

Sean Connery doing voice over as Sir Billi in The Bahamas. Copyright © 2014 Billi Productions Ltd. All rights reserved.

Birthdays for other James Bond actors:
>Barry Nelson (April 16)
>Bob Holness (November 12)
>Daniel Craig (March 2)
>George Lazenby (September 5)
>Pierce Brosnan (May 16)
>Roger Moore (October 14)
>Timothy Dalton (March 21)

Visit the official website for more information about Sean Connery's life and career including his wife's artwork.

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#sean_connery_james_bond_films

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