Sean Connery

Connery was born in Edinburgh on August 25, 1930. His father, Joseph Connery, was a Roman Catholic of Irish descent with roots in County Wexford, Ireland, while his mother, Euphamia "Effie" Maclean, was a Protestant.

He claims he was called by his middle name Sean long before he became an actor, explaining that he had an Irish friend named Seamus and those who knew them both decided to call him by his middle name whenever he was with Seamus, and it stuck. His first job was as a milkman with St. Cuthbert's Co-operative Society. He then joined the Royal Navy.

After being discharged on medical grounds, he briefly returned to the Co-op, then went on to a succession of jobs, including truck driver, labourer, artist's model for the Edinburgh College of Art and lifeguard. Under the name Thom Connery, he placed third in the tall man's division of the 1953 Mr. Universe contest. Another competitor, Johnny Isaacs, suggested that he try out for a stage production of South Pacific, which led to work on the stage, TV, and eventually in films. As a weight lifter, his nickname was "Big Tam". Personal life He was married to the Australian-born actress Diane Cilento from 1962 until 1973 (he was her second husband). They have one son, Jason Connery (born January 11, 1963), who was educated at Millfield School in Somerset, England, and the rigorous Gordonstoun boarding school in Scotland, before going on to become an actor.

According to Jason, his parents' divorce was an extremely bitter and painful affair (Diane Cilento has reportedly just written an autobiography that paints an unflattering portrait of her ex-husband). Since 1975, Sean Connery has been married to French artist Micheline Roquebrune and therefore, famous French tv journalist Stéphanie Renouvin of whom Micheline is the grandmother is Sir Connery's step-granddaughter.