Who is Sean Connery's wife Micheline Roquebrune? How shared love for golf blossomed into marriage of 45 years
Once voted “Sexiest Man of the Century,” Sean Connery was dubbed as “The Greatest Living Scot” and “Scotland's Greatest Living National Treasure.” The first actor to play James Bond in seven of the spy thrillers from ‘Dr No’ to ‘You Only Live Twice’ and ‘Never Say Never Again’, he died peacefully in his sleep in the Bahamas after a long illness. He was 90.
A beloved star remembered for his charismatic splendor on-screen and dashing looks, he was the recipient of an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes, including the Cecil B DeMille Award and a Henrietta Award. Born as Thomas Sean Connery in 1930, he was raised in the Fountainbridge area of Edinburgh by a Catholic factory worker and a Protestant domestic cleaner.
Calling him the nation's “best loved sons,” Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said, “I was heartbroken to learn this morning of the passing of Sir Sean Connery. Our nation today mourns one of her best-loved sons. Sean will be remembered best as James Bond – the classic 007 – but his roles were many and varied. He was a global legend but, first and foremost, a patriotic and proud Scot – his towering presence at the opening of the Scottish Parliament and in 1999 showed his love for the country of his birth.”
As the world mourns his death, here's a glimpse of his personal life and his now widow. First married to Diane Cilento from 1962 to 1973, Connery was known for his colorful dating life. He separated from his first wife in 1971 and they have a son together, Jason Connery. The ‘Dragonheart’ actor found love again in the arms of Moroccan-French painter Micheline Roquebrune.
Who is Micheline Roquebrune?
Married for 45 years, the couple first crossed paths at a sporting event in Casablanca, Morocco. Born on April 4, 1929, in Edinburgh, Scotland, to her parents of Moroccan and French descent, Micheline Roquebrune is a painter who creates unique works of art using “simplified forms, unexpected croppings and changes of scale.” It was her passion for golf that first led her to the actor and it would be an understatement to call it “love at first sight.”
“He grabs hold of me and kisses me passionately. I’m transported,” she marveled while spilling secrets from the first night they met in an interview with France’s Gala magazine. “The four days that follow, we continue to play golf like strangers then we meet to make love like crazy people. The reality is even better than the fantasy. No man has ever had this effect on me.”
Tying the knot and a lifelong journey
But, it was not so easy for the pair to glue their lives together. “In the early days it was difficult for us to see each other,” Sean Connery once confessed. The actor also divulged that Micheline was “still living in North Africa” with her children – Oliver, Micha, and Stephane – from her previous two marriages at the time.
The two exchanged vows in 1975 and have been seen at a number of red carpet events celebrating milestones as a couple. In his last days, he seemed to be enjoying his life with his partner. “I’ve had a great career and I suppose I am in retirement,” he told Closer. Shedding light on their common love for golf, he added, “Sinking a good putt or actually winning a round of golf makes my day. That doesn’t happen as often as I’d like, especially if I am playing against Micheline, she’s too good.”
A love for the ages
Aside from painting, Micheline has also made a few appearances on the small screen. According to IMDb, she was seen in ‘Never Say Never Again: Royal Film Premiere’ (1983), 1998’s ‘The Battle of the Bonds’ (1998), ‘Sagas’ (1999) and more.
Expressing his love for her, Sean once said, “Micheline is an amazing woman. She is the love of my life.” The two have several residences around the world, but they spend most of their time in the Bahamas. As per reports, they own a gorgeous abode in the private gated community of Lyford Cay.