USA: Sean Connery honoured by the American Film Institute at the 34th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony.

Record ID: 572913

  • Title: USA: Sean Connery honoured by the American Film Institute at the 34th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony.
  • Date: 15th June 2006
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) HONOREE SEAN CONNERY SAYING: "Well it (the award) just tells you that you are not dead yet." (REPORTER ASKING: "Looking back, over all of your work, what are you most proud of?) "The longevity maybe, the continuance, to still be offered movies. I am still as choosey as ever. Then I have always decided that I would take what I would like to see but it doesn't always work that way as everybody knows."
  • Embargoed: 30th June 2006 13:00
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  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA410RAZL1JTQGZY1FEFSPQSLTH
  • Story Text: Forty four years after playing the original James Bond, Sean Connery received the American Film Institute (AFI) Lifetime Achievement Award in Los Angeles, California on Thursday (June 8, 2006). "Well it tells you that you are not dead yet," joked Connery on the arrival line. Connery was honoured by his fellow actors and directors at the 34th Annual ceremony at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre. His colleagues spoke very warmly of the Scottish actor. Harrison Ford who co-starred with Connery in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade " in 1989 presented the actor with his award. "He is my father, my mentor, my inspiration. Great man, its a wonderful occasion I am delighted to be here to honour him," Ford told Reuters before the show.
    "Well he is one of the great actors of the 20th century that is for sure and has had many many memorable roles and portrayed many iconic figures, characters. He is part of the movie business, one of the kings of the movie business at this point," said Director George Lucas who worked with Connery in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". The Los Angeles-based American Film Institute, is a non-profit organization dedicated to film preservation and history. The institute's board includes director Steven Spielberg, Sony Pictures studio boss Amy Pascal and CBS Corp. chief executive Leslie Moonves. Connery started his career in late 1950s and his greatest role in film history was as the first James Bond in Dr. No in 1962 followed by "From Russia With Love" the following year.
    "He is a hero to all of us you know. He is a great inspiration to me and to a whole generation of actors. He continues to be. His work continues to inspire a new generation of actors so I have the greatest admiration for him and that is why I am here to honour him." said Actor Andy Garcia, who co-starred with Connery in "The Untouchables".
    The 21st James Bond movie "Casino Royale" starring actor Daniel Craig, known for his most recent role in Spielberg's "Munich". Craig will be the first 007 with blonde hair and has taken quite a lashing for the media and sceptical James Bond fans.
    "I think is a terrific choice. I think he will be very good. I don't know what they all are talking about because he is a very good actor. Very tough and going back to the original stuff. Excellent director, Cambell is a great director," Connery said.
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