Sean Connery: Acting, Stardom and National Identity

Sean Connery was one of cinemas most iconic stars. Born to a working-class family in Edinburgh, he held jobs as a milkman and an artists model before making the move into acting. The role of James Bond earned him global fame, but threatened to eclipse his identity as an actor.

This book offers a new perspective on Connerys career. It pays special attention to his star status, while arguing that he was a risk-taking actor who fashioned an impressive body of work. Beginning with Connerys early appearances on stage and television, including well-received performances in Shakespeare and Tolstoy, the book goes on to explore the Bond phenomenon and Connerys long struggle to reinvent himself. An Oscar-winning performance in The Untouchables marked the beginning of a second period of stardom, during which Connery successfully developed the character of the father-mentor. Ten years after his retirement from acting, he was still rated as the most popular British star among American audiences.

Exploring how Connerys performances combine to form an all-encompassing screen legend, the book also considers how the actor embodied national identity, both on screen and through his public role as an activist campaigning for Scottish independence.