1962年肖恩·康纳利向全球的影迷宣布：“我叫邦德—詹姆斯·邦德。”在21年间的七部邦德影片中，这位高大，黝黑的苏格兰人表现出的温文尔雅的特工形象，使全世界对他的代号都耳熟能详：007。
HOWTOACT007—SEANCONNERY
“MynameisBond—JamesBond,”SeanConneryinformedtheworld’smovie-goersin1962.InsevenBondfilmsoveraspanof21years,thetall,darkScotcometoembodythesuavesecretagentwhosecodenamewasknownaroundtheglobe:007.
Butitdidn’tgoverysmoothtobeasuccessfulstar.TheexceptionwasRobertHenderson,a47-year-oldYankwhowasdirectingSouthPacific.Oneday,Hendersonhadalongtalkwiththemusclemanwhosedeterminationseemedirrepressible.ConnerytoldHendersonhehopedtobecomeaprofessionalsoccerplayer.
“Welllook,”saidHenderson.“Withsoccer,at28or30.it’sallover.ThenwhatdoyoudoWouldn’tyouratherbeanactor”“How”askedConnery,“Ileftschoolat13.”
Hendersonnodded.“You’vepracticallynoeducation.Butyouhaveanimaginationandamind.Iwillgiveyoualistoftenbooksthatyoushouldread.”
The“ten”booksthatHendersonhadmentionedweremorelike200.includingthecompleteworksofShakespeare,ThomasWolfeandOscarWilde.ButConnerytackledthem—everyday,applyingalltheenergyandtenacityhegotfromhisparents.Hewouldgotothelibraryinthemorningandstaytillcurtaintime.
Lateatnight,hewouldsitupwithhistaperecorder,hearingavoicethatcertainlywasn’tPolishandwassoundingalittlelessScottish.Acting,hedecidedafterayearofthis,wasgoingtobehiscareer.Andforhisnewlife,Conneryhadchosenanewfirstname.
In1957,theBBCproducedRodSerling’splayRequiemforaheavyweight.Thedown-and-outprize-fighter,MountainMcClintock,wasplayedbyayoungactorwhohadboxedintheRoyalNavy.Hisname—SeanConnery.
Thesameyear,ConnerywascastinaproductionofAnnaChristie.ThetitlerolewasplayedbyashblondDianeCelento.ShewastobecomeConnery’swifeafewyearslater.
BythenConneryhadappearedinfiveforgettablefilms—butinoneofthem,hecaughttheeyeofWaltDisney,whobroughthimtotheUnitedStatesin1958.DisneycasthimasMichaelMcBride,theloveinterestinastoryaboutleprechaunscalledDarbyO’GilandtheLittlePeople.Inthefilm’sclimax,McBridehasarousingfistfightwiththevillagebully.
AmongthosewhotooknoteofConnery’sscreenpresenceinDarbywasproducerHarrySaltzmanwho,withco-producerAlbertR.“Cubby”Rroccoli,wascastingafilmoftheirownbasedonDr.No,the1985novelbyLanFleming.
Connerywascalledtotheproducers’Londonofficeforaninterview.“WewatchedhimboundacrossthestreetlikeSuperman,”saidSaltzmanlater.“WeknewwehadourBond.”
ButlanFleming,authoroftheJamesBondnovels.Hadcastingapprovalandwashardertopersuade.“He’dhavelovedtohavehadCaryGrantintherole,buttherewasn’tenoughmoneyforthat.”SaysConnery.“SohewasobligedtoagreethatIwoulddoit.”
PlayitConnerydid,andsplendidly—fivetimesinallinthe60s.fromDr,No,FromRussiawithLove,GoldfingerandThunderballtoYouOnlyLiveTwice.Hisdebonaircharmandmagneticgoodlooksonscreencaptivatedaudiencesaroundtheglobe.SmallboysfromChicagotoRomecouldtellyouexactlywhat007saidwhenGoldfingerthreatenedhimwithalaser:
“Doyouexpectmetotalk”
“No,Mr.Bond.Iexpectyoutodie.”
But007didnotdie.TheBondpictures’successpermittedConnerytomovehiswife,theirson,Jason,andhisstepdaughterintoatownhouseoverlookingLondon’sActonPark.
Hewasalsoabletobuyhisparentsamorecomfortablehomeandpersuadehisfathertoretire.HealsosetupScottishInternationalEducationalTrustwith$1million.TohelpunderprivilegedScotsgotocollege.