Sean Connery

Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born August 25,1930 in Edinburgh, Scotland) better known simply as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor who has starred in many films and is best known as the original cinematic James Bond. His birth name was Thomas Connery. The name "Sean" was added later as a stage name.

Personal life

Connery was born in Edinburgh, Scotland to a mixed-religion couple. His father was an Irish Catholic and his mother was Protestant. Neither Tommy (Sean) nor his brother, Neil, were raised Catholic. He joined the Royal Navy after leaving school, and after being discharged on medical grounds went on to a succession of jobs, including labourer and lifeguard. He competed for Scotland in the Mr. Universe competition in 1950, which led to work on the stage, TV, and eventually film.

Related Topics:
Edinburgh - Scotland - Irish Catholic - Protestant - Catholic - Royal Navy - Mr. Universe - 1950

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He has long advocated Scottish independence, and has supported the Scottish National Party, a political party campaigning for Scottish self-government, financially and through personal appearances. This support is illustrated by a comment from his official website:

Related Topics:
Scottish independence - Scottish National Party - Self-government

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:"While it is generally accepted that his support of Scotland's independence and the Scottish National Party delayed his knighthood for many years, his commitment to Scotland has never wavered. Politics in the United Kingdom often has more intrigue than a James Bond plot. While Scotland is not yet independent, she does have a new parliament. Sir Sean campaigned hard for the yes vote during the Scottish Referendum that created the new Scottish Parliament. He believes firmly that the Scottish Parliament will grow in power and that Scotland will be independent within his lifetime." http://www.seanconnery.com/biography/knighthood/

Related Topics:
Politics in the United Kingdom - Scottish Referendum - Scottish Parliament

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Connery used part of the fees from his work as James Bond to establish a charity to support deprived children in Edinburgh as well as Scottish Film production. These charitable works would have earned him a Knighthood much earlier but it was revealed in 1997 that the award had been declined due to concern over statements that Connery made in interviews that in certain circumstances physical abuse of women is acceptable.

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Connery received the Legion D'Honneur in 1991. He received Kennedy Center Honors from the United States in 1999, presented to him by President Bill Clinton. He received a knighthood on July 5, 2000, wearing a hunting tartan kilt of the MacLean of Duart clan. Sean Connery received the Orden de Manuel Amador Guerrero from Mireya Moscoso, former president of Panama on 11 March 2003, for his talent and versatility as an actor.

Related Topics:
Legion D'Honneur - 1991 - Kennedy Center Honors - United States - 1999 - Bill Clinton - Knighthood - July 5 - 2000 - Tartan - Kilt - MacLean of Duart - Clan - Orden de Manuel Amador Guerrero - Mireya Moscoso - Panama - 11 March - 2003

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He was married to Australian-born actress Diane Cilento from 1962 until 1973. Since 1975, he has been married to French-Moroccan artist Micheline Roquebrune Connery. With Cilento he had a son, Jason Connery, who also became an actor, and was educated at Millfield School in Somerset, England.

Related Topics:
Diane Cilento - Jason Connery - Millfield School - Somerset - England

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In September 2004, media reports indicated that Connery intended to retire after he pulled out of Josiah's Canon, which is to be released in 2005. However, in a December 2004 interview with The Scotsman newspaper from his home in the Bahamas, the then-74 year-old actor denied he was retiring and said he would like to make another movie, but that he is taking a break from acting in order to concentrate on writing his autobiography, but now the book will no longer be written. Just weeks before his 75th birthday, over the weekend of July 30th/31st 2005, it was widely reported in the broadcast media, and again in The Scotsmanhttp://news.scotsman.com/entertainment.cfm?id=1707662005 which credited the source as an interview in an unspecified New Zealand newspaper, that he had decided to retire from film making following disillusionment with the "idiots now in Hollywood".

Related Topics:
Josiah's Canon - 2005 - The Scotsman - Bahamas - Autobiography - New Zealand

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