Early life Sean Connery

sean connery plaque @ birthplace fountainbridge, edinburgh

thomas sean connery, named thomas after grandfather, born in fountainbridge, edinburgh, scotland on 25 august 1930. mother, euphemia mcbain effie (née mclean), cleaning woman, , father, joseph connery, factory worker , lorry driver. paternal grandfather s parents emigrated scotland ireland in mid-19th century. remainder of family of scottish descent, , maternal great-grandparents native scottish gaelic speakers fife (unusually, speaker of language), , uig on isle of skye. father roman catholic, , mother protestant. has younger brother, neil (b. 1938). connery has said called sean, middle name, long before becoming actor, explaining when young had irish friend named séamus , knew them both had decided call connery middle name whenever both present. referred in youth tommy . although small in primary school, grew rapidly around age of 12, reaching full adult height of 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) @ 18. known during teen years big tam , , has stated lost virginity adult woman in ats uniform @ age of 14.

an edinburgh co-op milk cart photographed in 1981

connery s first job milkman in edinburgh st. cuthbert s co-operative society. in 2009, connery recalled conversation in taxi:

when took taxi during recent edinburgh film festival, driver amazed put name every street passed. how come? asked. boy used deliver milk round here, said. do now? rather harder answer.

connery joined royal navy, during time acquired 2 tattoos, of official website says unlike many tattoos, not frivolous—his tattoos reflect 2 of lifelong commitments: family , scotland. ... 1 tattoo tribute parents , reads mum , dad, , other self-explanatory, scotland forever.

connery later discharged navy on medical grounds because of duodenal ulcer, condition affected of males in previous generations of family. afterwards, returned co-op, worked as, among other things, lorry driver, lifeguard @ portobello swimming baths, labourer, artist s model edinburgh college of art, , after suggestion former mr. scotland, archie brennan, coffin polisher. modelling earned him 15 shillings hour. artist richard demarco, @ time student painted several notable pictures of connery, described him straight, shy, too, beautiful words, virtual adonis .

connery began bodybuilding @ age of 18, , 1951 trained heavily ellington, former gym instructor in british army. while official website claims third in 1950 mr. universe contest, sources place him in 1953 competition, either third in junior class or failing place in tall man classification. connery stated deterred bodybuilding when found americans beat him in competitions because of sheer muscle size and, unlike connery, refused participate in athletic activity make them lose muscle mass.

connery keen footballer, having played bonnyrigg rose in younger days. offered trial east fife. while on tour south pacific, connery played in football match against local team matt busby, manager of manchester united, happened scouting. according reports, busby impressed physical prowess , offered connery contract worth £25 week after game. connery admits tempted accept, recalls, realised top-class footballer on hill age of 30, , 23. decided become actor , turned out 1 of more intelligent moves.