Sean Connery

<p>Sean Connery was one of cinema's most iconic stars. Born to a working-class family in Edinburgh he held jobs as a milkman and an artist's 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.<br><br>This book offers a new perspective on Connery's 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 Connery's early appearances on stage and television including well-received performances in Shakespeare and Tolstoy the book goes on to explore the Bond phenomenon and Connery's long struggle to reinvent himself. An Oscar-winning performance in <i>The Untouchables</i> 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.<br><br>Exploring how Connery's 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.</p>