Sean Connery, the original James Bond, admitted that his 007 movies went downhill after the release of his favourite film in the franchise. The late Scottish actor starred in six official Bond films and the unofficial Never Say Never Again, but he believed the series peaked early with 1963's From Russia with Love.
Connery's Favourite Bond Film
In a 2002 interview with ABC News' Sam Donaldson, Connery named From Russia with Love as his favourite among his Bond movies. The film is widely regarded as a classic, introducing key elements such as SPECTRE and the iconic gadgets that became hallmarks of the series.
Connery explained that after the first two films, the role became less challenging. He said: "Once you had done the first two you just moved forward because the rules were established. One wound up doing less and less as it were, because you did what you were expected to do and whatever else up to a point."
The Decline After From Russia with Love
The actor believed that the Bond films increasingly relied on "absurd situations," which made the role more difficult. He noted: "You had to work very hard to make something look easy" in a part like Bond, implying that the later films required more effort to maintain the same level of performance.
Connery's final performance as Bond came in 2005, when he voiced the character in a video game adaptation of From Russia with Love. During that project, he reportedly showed incredible kindness to the development team.
Legacy of Connery's Bond
Connery's tenure as James Bond began with Dr. No in 1962 and continued through Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever, and the unofficial Never Say Never Again. Despite his criticism of the later films, his portrayal remains iconic and set the standard for all subsequent actors.
