Not my story but...
Since this is apocraphyl, I'm not quite sure it fits in this qotw, but as a celeb story I like it, so tough. As an actor you quickly get to hear who the utter arseholes are and less often who the nice ones are.

There's a lovely story that I heard about Sean Connery from another actor I know, on the 1979 film The Great Train Robbery.

It centres around Michael Elphick who used to be Boon in the 80s and in the last few years of his life was a regular on Eastenders. Elphick was a legendary boozer and his alcohol problems almost certainly contributed to his early death.

Anyhoo, on the set of this film, he arrives one morning with a stinking hangover, having been in the hotel bar most of the night and he doesn't know his lines - at all. Now this is bad, very bad. If you hold up filming because you've been on the sauce all night and you're a small part, you'll probably cost the production a lot of money.

Result is you'll get fired and the damage to your reputation as a professional doesn't bear thinking about. So understandably, Elphick as well as feeling like shit is slightly nervous. He arrives on set stinking like a brewery, says hello to Connery who acknowledges him with a slightly surprised glance, and then he quickly tries to knuckle down to get his lines in.

Half an hour later he's on set for a scene with Connery and he's shitting himself. Scene starts, Elphick gets his first couple of lines out and then... miracle of miracles... Connery screws up!

2nd take, Connery stumbles through his first lines, Elphick gets through his next couple of lines, and then Connery does it again - dries like an 8 year old doing the school Christmas show.

3rd take, 4th take, 5th take and the same thing keeps happening, they get a little bit further each time and then Connery keeps screwing up - to the extent that he's starting to look like an amateur.

Elphick meanwhile is starting to get on top of his lines and is thinking that Connery really isn't all that impressive as an actor, but, hey, he's the star so what can you do?

After another few fruitless takes, Connery apologises to the cast and crew, and asks if he can take a break for 20 minutes to get his head sorted, and when they come back, they'll do the scene in a take and be done with it.

Elphick can't believe his luck, and so goes outside for a quick coffee and cigarette. As he's stubbing his fag out round one of the backs of the trailers, Connery walks round the corner and says 'Alright Michael, do you think you know your lines now?'

Connery had deliberately screwed up every single take to help Michael Elphick out and save his reputation. Connery as the huge star could get away with it. So, if anyone gives you any nasty gossip about Sean Connery, don't believe a word - they don't come much nicer.
(sugar_tits, Wed 14 Oct 2009, 13:45, 6 replies)

I have heard a similar story before...
...but it's nice to read anecdotes like this.

*clicks*
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 14 Oct 2009, 13:54, closed)

I've also heard a story about Shir Sean...
A friend's dad (some kind of rich businessman type) was playing at a charity golfing event. Sean Connery was also one of the participants. It got to the end of the day and everyone was back in the clubhouse enjoying a few drinks. Sean was wandering about with a bottle of whisky in his hand, chatting to the various people there. My friend's dad and his mates asked him if he had any good stories about other celebrities, and specifically if he'd shagged anyone famous.

Now Sir Sean, ever the gentleman, refused to kiss and tell, and the conversation moved on to other topics and Sean continued his mingling. The night wore on and eventually Sean decided it was time to head off. On his way out, he headed back over to my friend's dad's table, slammed down the now empty bottle of whisky in the middle and uttered the immortal words

"1967. Petula Clark. In the arse."

before making his exit.

Sounds like a cool guy.
(Iaino, Wed 14 Oct 2009, 14:09, closed)

I like this ^
Brilliant.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Wed 14 Oct 2009, 14:18, closed)

Excellent!
This may be one of the few times a comment ends up on the front page!
(NoveltyCondomHead Clanks Wams., Wed 14 Oct 2009, 16:46, closed)

I've heard this before...
Not saying it's not true, like, just that I've heard the exact same.

Bloody good story anyway.
(SnowyTheWereRabbit the Leporid from Hell, Wed 14 Oct 2009, 18:43, closed)

Downtown
No Doubt
(Sir Tainley Barking Ezekiel 23:20, Wed 14 Oct 2009, 23:01, closed)