Sean Connery was one of cinema’s great icons thanks to his portrayal of James Bond. However, behind his image as a leading man were statements that, decades later, continue to provoke controversy.
In November 1965, during an interview with Playboy, the Scottish actor was asked about the violence his character inflicted on women.
His response was unequivocal: “I don’t think there’s anything particularly wrong with hitting a woman”.
Connery maintained that an open-handed slap could be justified if other alternatives had failed and prior warnings had been given.
He even said he would do it if a woman behaved in a “hysterical” or “stubborn” manner continuously.
Most surprisingly, he did not retract his statement. In 1987, during an interview with journalist Barbara Walters, he was confronted again about those words and said he had not changed his mind.
The statements took on greater significance when his first wife, actress Diane Cilento, publicly accused him of physical abuse during their marriage, allegations Connery denied.
The actor died in 2020, at the age of 90, leaving behind a historic film career, but also statements that continue to be questioned.