James Davies, was left ‘Shaken but not stirred’ after spending the morning with Sir Sean Connery, on his (00)78th Birthday.
Getting up at 4am to go to Bristol International Airport is not the start most people would choose on a Bank Holiday Monday, particularly when you have been on a booze cruise the night before and outside it is dark, cold and pouring with rain. I, however, have not jumped out of bed faster.
Although it is often said you should never meet your heroes, I took the risk when I hopped on a plane and met James Bond. Well, the finest actor to play Ian Fleming’s ‘00’ agent, anyway.
Ever since I saw the film, Dr No, at the tender age of six, one Christmas, and heard Sir Sean Connery utter the words “Bond, James Bond”, during that famous casino scene, the Hollywood legend has always been someone I have greatly admired and a star I have always wanted to interview.
I wondered whether a character such as Bond existed, and was even more curious to find out whether Sir Sean Connery was anything like the cool and charismatic hero that made him a sex symbol, a multi-millionaire, a worldwide superstar and a cultural phenomenon.
The one time coffin polisher is a notoriously private individual who, at times, likes to shy away from the glitz, glamour and relentless fuss that goes with his job. In fact Sir Sean’s craving for privacy was one of the reasons he decided to hang up his Walther PPK. Therefore, arranging ten minutes with this highly sort after star would not be easy.
After contacting both his publicist and agent in Los Angeles, with the request to do an interview with the great Scot, I was met with a firm no, explaining, “Sir Sean does not do interviews”. To my dismay I really thought it was, ‘Goodbye Mr Bond’.
But, like any good secret agent, I had a Plan B. After scrawling through the internet and reading, ‘double 0, several’ articles, I came across a name- Murray Grigor.
Murray, a lifelong friend of Sir Sean, and co-writer of his long awaited book, simply entitled Being A Scot, seemed the perfect person to lend a hand. Immediately I set to work and emailed the film maker in the hope he could help arrange something.
At first, it would seem even this attempt had failed as the first lines of his reply read, “James, your timing couldn’t have been any worse”.
By this, Murray was referring to the recent press Sir Sean had received and been unfairly subjected to, during the last couple of weeks.
Nevertheless I remained upbeat. Although, it seemed a full blown interview was unlikely, a meeting was not, after Murray kindly invited me to Edinburgh, the Scottish capital, and the place of Sir Sean’s birth, where he was making a special appearance at the city’s International Book Festival to give a talk on his (00)78th Birthday.
After arriving in Edinburgh, the city where life began for the proud Scot back in 1930 and where he rose from humble beginnings to become a Freeman of the City, early on Monday, 25th August, I excitedly made my way to the hotel, where both he and Murray were staying. After getting on one of the capitals luxury buses, which takes you from the airport to the city centre, an elderly lady I was sat next to gave me a firm and rather sharp nudge. “You look like you’re going somewhere special”, she said.
After arriving in Edinburgh, the city where life began for the proud Scot back in 1930 and where he rose from humble beginnings to become a Freeman of the City, early on Monday, 25th August, I excitedly made my way to the hotel, where both he and Murray were staying. After getting on one of the capitals luxury buses, which takes you from the airport to the city centre, an elderly lady I was sat next to gave me a firm and rather sharp nudge. “You look like you’re going somewhere special”, she said.
To which I smiled and replied, “You could say that. I’m going to have breakfast with James Bond. It’s his birthday you know?”
Judging by the strange look she gave me, I think she was pleased it was her stop. Two short minutes later, I had arrived in the centre of Edinburgh. With its stunning scenery and incredibly beautiful backdrop which sees Edinburgh Castle overlook the city streets, I could have quite easily been on a Bond location. The place really is a sumptuous visual spectacle, and no doubt would not be so captivating without its stunning back drop.
Walking through the revolving doors, of the hotel, I tried to run through what I would say to the Oscar-winning actor. Perhaps, ‘Ah, Mr Bond, I’ve been expecting you’. On second thoughts, maybe not.
After gathering a couple of realistic thoughts, I proceeded through to the elegant stairwell which looked into the dining room. There sat Sir Sean with his wife, the beautiful Micheline, whom he met playing his beloved golf.
To be honest, it seemed somewhat strange to see Sir Sean eating breakfast, and doing something we all do. But why should it, he, like everyone else, is human?
After being shaken, and stirred, I soon met Murray, who promptly introduced me to the imposing actor, who still stands at an impressive 6'2".
The aura that exudes the proud Scot is incredible and one I have never experienced before, with any other A-list star. His confidence and self assurance was clear to see as he roamed the hotel reception.
“Sean this is James. James, Sean”, Murray said.
Although I had worried about what I would say, I really did not need to. Sir Sean immediately put me at ease, making me feel welcome instantaneously. Far from saying “Do you expect me to talk?”, like he tells his nemesis, Goldfinger, in the 1964 epic, Sir Sean was a gentleman with an un-denying presence.
The last great movie star put out his hand and lifted that famous eyebrow, saying in his broad and unmistakable Scottish accent, “Ah, nice to meet you James.”
Adding, with a wry smile, “I was a James once”, to which we both laughed and shared a mutual grin.
Sir Sean, 78, dapperly dressed in a white sweater, navy blue jacket and smart tartan trousers with matching scarf, oozed all the sophistication and charm he showed during the 1960’s while playing the Martini drinking, British agent. Standing together chatting really was quite a surreal moment. Although Sir Sean had obviously aged it was, as strange as it sounds, like talking to James Bond.
After a short chat, Murray, Sir Sean and I made our way to the book launch. Surprisingly there was no driver waiting to take us. Sir Sean rather humbly opted to walk through the city streets where he once delivered milk.
On seeing Scotland’s most famous export, people just stopped and starred. After all it is not every day you see a Hollywood star. Sir Sean laughed and joked the whole way, putting out his hand for anyone who wished to say hello. As well as telling me about the wonderful dinner he had, had the night before, and how a street cleaning device had kept him awake most of the night, the Oscar winning actor confessed, to my amusement, “I keep all my awards in the bathroom. Including the Oscar.”
Once we arrived, we were all ushered in through the back entrance, where the world’s press were waiting. It was time for Sir Sean to disappear. But before he did, he turned to me and said, “Thanks for coming James”, raising that eyebrow once again, that often doubles as a smile.
Far from being the ‘overgrown stuntman’, Bond’s creator Fleming once allegedly called him, Sir Sean was a star who made my day. With my mission complete, in true Bond style I left and went to see my Bond girls (pictured below).
Keira Knightley, James Davies, Sienna Miller
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