The Role of Bond: Sean Connery

Sean Connery is a Scottish actor who defined the role of James Bond in each movie that he stared in as Bond.  He presented a style, grace, sense of self and magnetism in Bond which initially started as a character in a book.  Sean knew that Bond had to be dangerous and street smart but he also knew that he had to care about what happened to Bond so the character would survive.  Sean Connery could be considered the actor who created the success of James Bond and who the famous “James Bond” has become today.

Sean brought the role of Bond to life perhaps because his life was parallel to Bond in many ways.  Sean grew up in Edinburgh in a working class area known as the Fountainbridge neighbourhood which was the opposite of the privileged class.   Novel writer Ian Fleming placed Bond in similar circumstances.  Sean attended the exclusive Edinburgh boarding school which was also where Bond was around but only as the milk delivery man trying to support a family after dropping out of school in his teens.  Sean was in the Royal Navy, and dreamed to see the world but became only a seaman on battleships working as a gunner.  This led to a discharge as he had ulcers.  He next tried to be Mr. Universe but came in with only a Bronze standing, which was not enough to make a future career as a professional bodybuilder.  Sean almost played soccer for Manchester United but again this would be a career without a future beyond the age of 30.  In reality, Sean ended up struggling as an actor and dedicated himself to studying classics.  By growing up on the poor side of the fence and understanding how tough life really was, Sean could provide understanding in the role of Bond because he had the ability to make every dream he had in life a reality.

Sean worked as an actor who struggled to build a reputation by taking on new dramatic roles each week as well as struggling to earn enough money to live and eat.  This hardship resulted in Sean developing skills and a physical presence that few actors could even hope to develop in a lifetime.  He may have been working class, yet this presence allowed him to have relationships with many beautiful upper-class women.   Self-presence and an air of confidence learned from acting lead Sean into having the presence to walk into the Mayfair offices of producer Albert R. Broccoli with a smooth style and grace when they were interviewing for an actor to portray Ian Fleming’s secret agent.  Sean could provide an air of confidence based on his real life of succeeding against great odds just as Bond had to succeed against all odds. It was said by Broccoli’s partner, Harry Saltzman that “he moved like a big jungle cat.”  Sean was the perfect man for the role.

Sean Connery played James Bond for nearly a decade.  He stared in six Bond films which grossed over $600 million turning Bond films into a successful and lucrative enterprise.  His struggles in life lead Sean to move beyond the role of Bond to take on other larger than life roles.  He could bring life to diverse films resulting in work from directors such as Alfred Hitchcock and Steve Spielberg.  Even in smaller roles, Sean earned the Best Supporting Actor Award.   On one occasion, former President Clinton recognized Sean personally for his contribution to the arts.   In 2006, Sean Connery was honoured with the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award as recognition for being an influential and successful actor in the twentieth century.  He was also knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000.  Sean Connery is best known as “Bond” – “James Bond”.