Sean Connery as James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever.
Sean Connery as James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever.
Late legendary actor Sean Connery had long been known as a Hollywood sex symbol, having led a life dotted with intense love affairs with beautiful women — much like his most iconic acting role as James Bond.
The Scottish movie star, who died in his sleep overnight at the age of 90, leaves behind his wife of 45 years, Micheline Roquebrune, with whom he shared a passionate relationship from the moment they met in 1970.
Micheline, 91, paid an emotional tribute to her "gorgeous model of a man", revealing his struggle with dementia.
"It was no life for him," she said of the condition that had "taken its toll".
"He was not able to express himself latterly. At least he died in his sleep and it was just so peaceful. I was with him all the time and he just slipped away," she said, adding that it was "what he wanted."
Connery, who had split from his first wife Diane Cilento when he met Roquebrune at a golf tournament, married the Moroccan-French painter in 1975, staying together until his death on October 31.
The marriage survived a well-documented affair Connery had in the late 1980s with singer Lynsey de Paul.
His previous marriage, to Australian-born actress Cilento, lasted 11 years - but she says he was violent and abusive.
Connery and Cilento met while appearing together in Eugene O'Neill's play Anna Christie, according to Female First.
At the time, Cilento was pregnant and married to Italian writer Andrew Volpe. Connery was living with photographer Julie Hamilton.
According to the Daily Mail, one morning, Connery declared to his girlfriend: "Diane Cilento has got incredible eyes," prompting a fiery argument.
Sean Connery and Diane Cilento had a son together called Jason. Photo / news.com.au
They eventually split, and he went on to wed Cilento in 1962. A year later, their son Jason was born.
But their marriage — which lasted 11 years — was deeply flawed from the beginning, with Cilento alleging the Goldfinger star beat her in a jealous rage one night in their early years of marriage after they had attended a wedding — allegations Connery died.
The Scotsman reported in 2005 of Cilento's claims: "There was physical contact, but it is important to see it in context. You have got to remember he was probably twice my weight."
Cilento's allegations, which she detailed in her 2006 autobiography My Nine Lives, haunted Connery, who was knighted by the Queen in 2000.
Cilento died in 2011 after a battle with cancer.
'Nothing wrong with hitting a woman'
Just months after the attack on his wife allegedly took place, Connery sparked controversy when he told Playboy magazine in 1965: "I don't think there is anything particularly wrong about hitting a woman – although I don't recommend doing it in the same way that you'd hit a man.
"An open-handed slap is justified, if all other alternatives fail and there has been plenty of warning. If a woman is a bitch, or hysterical, or bloody-minded continually, then I'd do it."
In a 1993 interview with Vanity Fair, he also said: "There are women who take it to the wire. That's what they are looking for, the ultimate confrontation. They want a smack."
Meeting Micheline
Speaking to The Sun in 2011, Sean described Micheline — with whom he shared a love of golf and lived with in the Bahamas until his death — as "the love of his life."
Acclaimed artist Micheline had been married twice before she met Connery, with three children from her previous marriages.
Speaking of the moment she first met the star, she admitted she didn't know who he was.
"I saw this man from the back, and of course, he had a fine physique" she told The Sun of the 6ft 2 actor.
Micheline Roquebrune and Sean Connery. Photo / AP
"But that first day I didn't know who he was or anything about him.
"Then I dreamed I saw this man. I was in his arms. And I thought 'At last, peace'.
"The next day I went back to the tournament and that was that!".
So strong was their initial connection it transcended the normal means of communication, given at the start of their relationship, they couldn't even speak the same language.
Micheline, who is fluent in French and Spanish, told the publication it wasn't an issue, cheekily revealing: "Oh we had no problem communicating — body language!"
They remained together for 45 years, surviving through an affair Connery had with singer Lynsey de Paul in the late 1980s.
Affair with Lynsey de Paul
De Paul spoke about her adulterous affair with Connery which lasted "several months" in 1992.
According to the Evening Standard, she said she was "horrified" by his comments to Playboy and Vanity Fair and felt compelled to speak out.
"I wasn't aware of Sean's violent side when I was with him, but I was quite horrified when I read that he had said it was okay to hit a woman."
The singer said she regretted her affair with the actor, which began in 1989 when they met at a party, while Micheline was sitting next to her.
"I didn't want to have an affair with him and I tried to keep our relationship platonic but he pursued me relentlessly. He wasn't my type at all because I'm not usually attracted to the macho type," she said.
Sean Connery, with his wife Micheline, leads a procession in New York in 2002. Photo / AP
"In the end I thought: 'Why not?' I didn't know his wife so I didn't feel I was betraying her by having an affair."
De Paul revealed he would phone her from the set of The Russia House, telling her he could only kiss his co-star Michelle Pfeiffer by thinking of her.
It reportedly lasted several months, with Connery ending things abruptly after failing to call her following a secret weekend away.
"I was a stupid girl to become involved with him. I don't think I was in love with him — I was just flattered by the full-on attention," de Paul later said of the affair.
Lynsey de Paul died in 2014 at 66, following a suspected brain haemorrhage, The Daily Mail reported.
Connery's death
On Saturday, the family of Sir Sean announced that he had died in his sleep at the age of 90.
The British actor was the first to bring the role of spy James Bond to the screen, a part he became famous around the globe for.
Born in Edinburgh, he would go on to star in scores of films from the Hunt for Red October to The Untouchables to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, almost always with his thick Scottish lilt.
