James Bond is a worldwide phenomenon. The charming secret agent is recognised globally and adored by all; old, young, male or female. However, with seven actors who have played James Bond in total, (technically nine if you count radio shows), how much can you really say you know about the actors behind the Bond persona. Read on to find out everything you didn’t know about your favourite 007.
Sean Connery
Although Sean Connery is often considered to be the best James Bond by many, he was not actually the first choice; even Bond producer, Cubby Broccoli, had doubts before hiring him. Broccoli first took interest in Connery after observing his fighting skills in in 1959’s Darby O’Gill and the Little People, but was unsure on whether he would attract enough attention from the ladies. In order to solve this dilemma, Broccoli took his wife to a film screening and suffice to say that she was adequately impressed. Connery would then continue to play Bond through both Goldfinger and Thunderball, two of the highest grossing films in the series. Did you know that Connery wore a hairpiece in every James Bond movie and during the filming of Goldfinger, he never actually traveled to the United States. In fact, every scene where he appears to be in the United States, he was actually in Pinewood Studios outside London.
Roger Moore
Moore won the role of Bond after Connery handed over the baton in 1971. At 45, he was the oldest actor to start playing Bond and still holds the title for being the oldest to play 007 with A View To Kill at the age of 57. Although many critics and even fans consider Moore to be one of the weakest Bond actors, he actually starred in the most movies and played the character for the longest period of time. Following Connery’s reign, Moore tried to differentiate himself from previous Bonds. Most notably, Moore was never seen ordering the Bond signature drink; a martini. Did you know that Roger Moore was never filmed running? In each of his seven films, a body double was used during all running scenes, as he thought he had a peculiar run. Also, despite acting as a secret agent and being around guns on set, Moore suffers from Hoplophobia, which is a fear of firearms. It is rumoured that this is due to a childhood accident where he was shot in the leg with an air rifle by his brother.
Timothy Dalton
Dalton was offered the role of James Bond twice; once for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and again in the middle of Roger Moore’s tenure. However, he did not take up the role as 007 until 1987 for The Living Daylights. However, Dalton’s Bond stint was sadly cut short due to a legal battle that ended up stalling the franchise for six years. This meant that Dalton actually only donned the 007 name twice. After Dalton, Liam Neeson, who was recognised at the time for his performance in Darkman and Schindler’s List, was the producer’s top choice to be the next Bond. However, he declined the offer. In a recent newspaper interview, he explained that “It was about 18 or 19 years ago and my wife-to-be said, ‘If you play James Bond, we’re not getting married.’ And I had to take that on board because I did want to marry her.”
James Bond and his adventures have solidly stood the test of time and continue to inspire generation after generation. Whether you associate yourself with the seductive Sean Connery or admire Moore for his long reign as 007, it is impossible to deny the capturing nature of these films. So, if you are looking for original Bond posters to transport you back to your favourite era or photographs that capture a key scene, head straight to our auction page now, where you can find everything a Bond fan needs to unleash their inner 007.