Sean Connery turned down role he said was 'disgusting' which other actor won Oscar for

Sean Connery turned down a number of iconic roles during his career, including one which won the actor who took on the role an Oscar, as he found it 'disgusting'
The iconic actor and silver screen legend Sean Connery once rejected a part that might have landed him a Best Actor Oscar, finding it "disgusting". Connery, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 90, left behind an astonishing array of work, not least his portrayal of James Bond and an Oscar-winning role in The Untouchables.
Even so, among the various offers he declined were parts that went on to become some of the greatest roles in film history, including one particular character who featured in a film which won five Oscars. Despite turning down the proposition due to its "disgusting" source material, there's a consensus among fans that this was the right decision by the 'Goldfinger' actor.
‌
‌
The concern amongst devotees of the Bond legend was that Connery would have reshaped the character too much in his own image instead of adhering to the required tone of a thriller.
According to a post on the r/TodayILearned subreddit: "Of the various roles Sean Connery turned down, they included Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs, John Hammond in Jurassic Park, Morpheus in The Matrix, Dumbledore in Harry Potter, and Gandalf in Lord of the Rings. Of the Hannibal part in particular, Connery felt it was too 'disgusting'."
Jonathan Demme, the director of The Silence of the Lambs, confirmed that there was a considerable effort exerted to secure Connery for the film, but he ultimately rejected the offer.
Demme recalled: "Sean Connery was the only other person I thought could be amazing for this. Connery has that fierce intelligence and also that serious physicality. I love Tony Hopkins, but Sean Connery could be amazing.
"Word came back shortly that he thought it was disgusting and wouldn't dream of playing the part. So, great, now we can go to Tony Hopkins."
Movie buffs were relieved Connery snubbed the part as there was speculation about how he would interpret the role of the nefarious cannibal, Hannibal Lecter.
‌
Anthony Hopkins, who embraced the character in three films, earned an Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in 'Silence of the Lambs' in 1994.
One social media user wrote: "What's funny is that while may have passed on them, the actors who took them made them into iconic performances."
‌
Another added: "There are two types of actors: those who transform into their characters, and those who transform the characters into themselves.
"Connery is the latter. He didn't transform into James Bond, Ramierz from Highlander, or the submarine commander from The Hunt for Red October; he was just Sean Connery in each of those roles. All those roles he turned down would've just been Sean Connery."
A third shared: "That's my takeaway every time this comes up. He passed on some iconic roles, but they probably wouldn't have become iconic in the first place had he NOT passed on them.
"I try and imagine him in those roles and it just doesn't fit. Sean Connery had star power but he's not the kind of actor who can do anything and become anyone, and that's fine."

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Record

an hour ago

• Daily Record

'All time favourite' war film with 'greatest actor' now streaming for free on ITV

Henry V was written and directed by Kenneth Branagh in his feature directorial debut Henry V, the historical drama that continues to captivate audiences years after its release, boasts an impressive 98 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Kenneth Branagh made his directorial debut with this film, also penning the script and starring as the eponymous King Henry V of England, bringing Shakespeare's 16th-century play to the silver screen. The film is often hailed as one of the finest Shakespeare adaptations ever produced, a sentiment echoed by its numerous accolades and critical acclaim. ‌ At the Oscars, Henry V was nominated for three major awards, with Branagh winning two for his direction and lead performance. ‌ One review praised the film, saying: "This is one of my all-time favourites. Branagh's interpretation of Henry V brings Shakespeare's play to life in a raw, gritty way. Branagh's interpretation of Henry is in line with Shakespeare's writing, hailing the king as a pious and well-intentioned sovereign." Another highlighted the portrayal of the monarch: "Historians can argue Henry V's true intentions and nature all they want; Shakespeare certainly saw him as one of the greatest heroes of English history, and Branagh bears this out.", reports the Express. The iconic St Crispin's Day speech from the original play is given a powerful cinematic treatment in the film, further cementing its status as a beloved classic. On the eve of the monumental Battle of Agincourt, Henry V rouses his men, who are significantly outnumbered, to envision the glory and immortality they will achieve if they emerge victorious. This speech is renowned for coining the phrase 'band of brothers' and is a pivotal moment in the film that captivated audiences. One critic stated: "The acting is brilliant and high energy. It's a great film adaptation of Shakespeare's play. If you're into Shakespeare, then you'll probably love itI really enjoyed the acting in this one. It's worth watching just to see the Crispin's Day speech." ‌ Another reviewer praised it as "the greatest speech by the most outstanding actor of the last 50 years." A further viewer said: "A classic war drama of a Shakespeare play. Everything is really well done, with the standout being Kenneth, who commands every scene he is in. Sometimes the flashbacks can be a little abrupt, and this seems very faithful to the source material." Also gracing the screen in this "masterpiece" film is a star-studded cast, featuring none other than Christian Bale as Robbing the luggage boy and a young Emma Thompson as Princess Catherine of Valois. Joining them on screen are Derek Jacobi, Judi Dench, James Larkin and Harry Potter actor Robbie Coltrane. "Incredibly moving. A masterpiece", were the words one fan used to describe the film. "Other reviews have naturally compared Henry V to the Laurence Olivier 1944 play, which was hugely successful in its own ownright, but stylistically was far less gritty and accessible for audiences than the 1989 film." Henry V is now available for streaming on ITVX.

Daily Record

an hour ago

• Daily Record

'Greatest' James Bond film of all time ranked by Rotten Tomatoes

The James Bond film franchise has been running since 1962, with 27 movies released over the years - and now the entire collection has been ranked from worst to best Across 27 films and seven actors taking on the role of the iconic 007 agent, James Bond has established itself as a quintessential British film franchise since the swinging sixties. But which film claims the crown as the best Bond flick? Rotten Tomatoes, one of the most reliable film and telly review sites, is often the first port of call for those seeking the truth about a film's quality, giving power to the people. ‌ Its 'Tomatometer' calculates an overall score based on cinema-goers' reviews, and this has enabled them to rank all of the James Bond films in order, with the top spot boasting an impressive 99% score. ‌ James Bond was initially conceived in 1953 by Ian Fleming as a fictional British Secret Service agent, whose life and missions spanned 12 novels and two short stories. However, in 1962, Fleming's character made his screen debut, altering the trajectory of British film history with Dr No, the inaugural Bond film, which remains one of the best-reviewed of the 007 movies. Since then, the franchise has soared to new heights, with fans eagerly awaiting each new release and watching the international man of mystery traverse the globe, undertake new missions, and don swanky new suits. While the worst-reviewed film of the Bond franchise is the 1967 spoof Casino Royale, featuring David Niven, claiming the top spot is Goldfinger, released in 1964, reports the Express. Goldfinger, the dazzling third James Bond offering, reigns supreme as viewers' top pick of the series, featuring Sean Connery's iconic portrayal as the suave MI6 operative. After the success of its predecessors, the budget for Goldfinger was ramped up to match the combined expenditure of the first two films, setting the stage for the enterprise's first major blockbuster and paving the way for future extravaganzas. An enthusiast on Rotten Tomatoes lavished praise, writing: "The Bond film to which all others must be compared. The girls, the guns, the gadgets, the locations, the villains, the evil master plan... it may not have been the first Bond film, but it is, and likely always will be, the standard-bearer." Another fan said: "Goldfinger hands down is one of the best in the entire series. It simply has everything great to offer: you have action, one-liners, a great villain, a memorable Bond girl and Sean Connery as Bond. Absolutely iconic." ‌ Not to be outdone, From Russia With Love claims second place with an impressive 97% score, attributed to its 'spectacular' scenes, and remaining unforgettable with Connery at the helm. One viewer summed up: "Sean Connery will never truly be replaced as Bond," adding: "And, if 'Dr No' wasn't enough proof of that, look no further than this funny, thrilling and sexy adventure." ‌ We must track down to fourth place in the rolodex of Bond films to encounter the modern-era 007s, with Daniel Craig's debut in 'Casino Royale' leading the charge. 'No Time to Die', which graced the silver screen in 2021, nestles at number seven amidst the top-rated Bonds. This chapter marked the curtain call for Daniel Craig as the iconic spy, passing the famed baton on to an as-yet undisclosed successor. Fans were vocal about Craig's swansong, with one critic saying: "Daniel Craig's final Bond is EVERYTHING we hoped for! Action, emotion, and a perfect goodbye to the 007 who redefined the role." Another added: "The multiverse-level excitement of bringing his journey full circle with heart & high stakes. It's not just about stopping the villain; it's Bond facing his past & legacy. Craig is on fire, balancing grit & vulnerability like no other. We came for the action and stayed for the emotion. This film gave us closure & left us in awe. A proper farewell to a Bond we'll never forget." Bond aficionados eager for a dive into espionage nostalgia or simply wishing to treat themselves to the unparalleled 'Goldfinger', can find solace as it's available for streaming on ITVX and Amazon Prime.

Scottish Sun

3 hours ago

• Scottish Sun

The 1% Club wipes out seven players instantly on easy 90% question – but would you have known the answer?

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A QUESTION on The 1% Club wiped out players from the get-go - despite being deemed as easy. The popular quiz show, fronted by Lee Mack, is known for leaving players with their minds boggling thanks to its tough questions as the game goes on. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 This question wiped out The 1% Club players straight away 3 Would you have been able to answer it? However for most of the 100 players, they manage to sail through the first few round which are deemed easy thanks to most of the general public being able to correctly answer them. But for one episode of the Saturday night quiz favourite, seven people fell at the very first hurdle. They all failed to correctly identify the answer to the opening 90% question - which was all about letters. Reading the question aloud, Lee said: "Which of the following words still makes a valid word if you change the first letter to the next letter in the alphabet?" Lee then told the players of the three choices they had to pick from, which were - Page, Rage and Wage. With 30 seconds on the clock, the 100 players did their best to attempt to answer the question. However, for seven of them, they could not get to the right answer. Lee then confirmed that the answer was in fact, Rage. By switching the 'R' to an 'S' - the following letter in the alphabet - players were left with the word, Sage. Page would have produced "oage", whilst Wage would have read "xage". The 1% Club wipes out 20 people on tricky numbers question One player who got it wrong admitted it was his "biggest fear" to go out on the 90% question. He told Lee that he panicked and failed to read the question properly before selecting the answer as "wage". Hardest Quiz Show Questions Would you know the answers to some of quizzing TV's hardest questions Who Wants To Be A Millionaire - Earlier this year, fans were left outraged after what they described as the "worst" question in the show's history. Host Jeremy Clarkson asked: 'From the 2000 awards ceremony onwards, the Best Actress Oscar has never been won by a woman whose surname begins with which one of these letters?' The multiple choice answers were between G, K, M and W. In the end, and with the £32,000 safe, player Glen had to make a guess and went for G. It turned out to be correct as Nicole Kidman, Frances McDormand and Kate Winslet are among the stars who have won the Best Actress gong since 2000. - Earlier this year, fans were left outraged after what they described as the "worst" question in the show's history. Host Jeremy Clarkson asked: 'From the 2000 awards ceremony onwards, the Best Actress Oscar has never been won by a woman whose surname begins with which one of these letters?' The multiple choice answers were between G, K, M and W. In the end, and with the £32,000 safe, player Glen had to make a guess and went for G. It turned out to be correct as Nicole Kidman, Frances McDormand and Kate Winslet are among the stars who have won the Best Actress gong since 2000. The 1% Club - Viewers of Lee Mack's popular ITV show were left dumbfounded by a question that also left the players perplexed. The query went as follows: "Edna's birthday is on the 6th of April and Jen's birthday falls on the 15th of October, therefore Amir's birthday must be the 'X' of January." It turns out the conundrum links the numbers with its position in the sentence, so 6th is the sixth word and 15th is the fifteenth word. Therefore, Amir's birthday is January 24th, corresponding to the 24th word in the sentence. - Viewers of Lee Mack's popular ITV show were left dumbfounded by a question that also left the players perplexed. The query went as follows: "Edna's birthday is on the 6th of April and Jen's birthday falls on the 15th of October, therefore Amir's birthday must be the 'X' of January." It turns out the conundrum links the numbers with its position in the sentence, so 6th is the sixth word and 15th is the fifteenth word. Therefore, Amir's birthday is January 24th, corresponding to the 24th word in the sentence. The Chase - The ITV daytime favourite left fans scratching their heads when it threw up one of the most bizarre questions to ever grace the programme. One of the questions asked the player: "Someone with a nightshade intolerance should avoid eating what?" The options were - sweetcorn, potatoes, carrots - with Steve selecting sweetcorn but the correct answer was potatoes.