The death of iconic Scottish actor, Sean Connery, has touched off an outpouring of grief and tribute in Scotland and across the UK.
According to Connery’s son, Jason, the veteran actor died peacefully in his sleep over night while resting in Nassau, in the Bahamas. Connery had been reportedly unwell for some time.
Connery, who died aged 90, was most famous for playing the first James Bond, a fictional and larger than life British intelligence officer, in seven of the spy thrillers.
The James Bond films essentially glorify and mythologize the UK’s Secret Intelligence Service (SIS – better known as MI6).
Contemporary Bond actor, Daniel Craig, paid tribute to Connery by issuing the following statement: "The wit and charm he portrayed on screen could be measured in mega watts; he helped create the modern blockbuster".
Meanwhile, Dame Shirley Bassey, who sung the themes to three Bond films, described Connery as a “true gentleman” and said the pair will be “forever connected by Bond”.
But the most striking tributes were paid by Scottish national leaders past and present.
Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, tweeted that Scotland today “mourns one of her best loved sons”.
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 31, 2020 ">http://
1/ I was heartbroken to learn this morning of the passing of Sir Sean Connery. Our nation today mourns one of her best loved sons.
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 31, 2020
https://t.co/76UGDptARp
Alex Salmond, who preceded Sturgeon as First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), described Connery as the “world’s greatest Scot”.
— Alex Salmond (@AlexSalmond) October 31, 2020 ">http://
STATEMENT ON SIR SEAN CONNERY FROM ALEX SALMOND
— Alex Salmond (@AlexSalmond) October 31, 2020
“The world’s greatest Scot, the last of the real Hollywood stars, the definitive Bond” #SeanConnery #ScotlandForever pic.twitter.com/s9ZtCRJyz5
The effusive praise by the leaders of the Scottish independence movement is in part explained by Connery’s life-long support for the cause of Scottish independence.
Connery stayed true to his political principles and national ideals even after being knighted by the Queen 20 years ago for services to film drama.