James Bond star Sir Sean Connery faced a potentially deadly encounter captured on film that can be seen to this day in Thunderball. The 1965 film featured several underwater scuba diving scenes where Connery's Bond encounters sharks. During filming, Connery was supposed to be protected by clear plastic panels shielding him in close-ups. However, the panels only extended around three feet in height, and the predators could swim over them.
Connery's Genuine Fear Captured on Camera
As a result, the 007 star ended up getting much closer to sharks, especially during the pool fight at Largo's mansion. Thunderball director Terence Young later said that there are scenes in the movie where Bond is reacting to the apex predators, which are miscues. This means it's actually Connery reacting in genuine fear at a shark approaching him beyond the plastic shielding.
Connery's Struggles with Fame
This wasn't the only thing to frustrate the Scottish star, who after four 007 movies was now world-famous; something he struggled with despite all the benefits. The actor was becoming agitated with all press intrusion amid his own marriage difficulties with Diane Cilento. As a result, Connery refused to engage with the journalists and photographers who followed him around Nassau. He said at the time: “I find that fame tends to turn one from an actor and a human being into a piece of merchandise, a public institution. Well, I don't intend to undergo that metamorphosis.”
Connery's Humour on Set
As filming concluded on Thunderball, he gave a single interview to Playboy and even turned down a big payday to feature in a promotional TV special for NBC called The Incredible World of James Bond. Nevertheless, the Scottish legend didn't lose his sense of humour, as recounted by Bond girl Martine Beswick. Beswick, who previously played a Bond girl in From Russia with Love, recalled: “One time, we'd finished filming for the day, and there were hundreds of people milling around on the beach, all roped off watching. Sean called to the set hairdresser, ‘Here, you’, and then he simply pulled off his toupée and threw it at the hairdresser. The hairpiece sailed over like a Frisbee and as the hairdresser caught it, Sean said something like, 'That's it, I'm off.' Everyone just collapsed. It was the funniest thing.”
Thunderball is on ITV1 this Sunday at 3:10pm.
