Bond theme stirs Sir Sean after spa leaves him a little shaken
AT FIRST he looked a little shaken.
But once the theme from James Bond was played in his honour, something stirred in Sir Sean Connery.
The actor, 87, then smiled broadly as the crowd cheered his rare public appearance at the US Open tennis tournament in Flushing, New York.
Connery looked elated when the music from 007 was played as he waited to watch Roger Federer take on Frances Tiafoe.
Bruise
The Scot looked smart in a black blazer, black jumper and navy trousers, topped off with a tartan flat cap.
Connery’s demeanour was in contrast to his appearance earlier at a spa in Manhattan, where he was helped to a waiting car after spending two hours inside.
With a bruise on his left cheek, Connery appeared frail and walked with his fists clenched by his sides.
He was dressed more casually in grey trainers with red laces, grey trousers and a pink polo shirt.
A man in a white coat, who appeared to be an employee of the spa, had one hand on Connery’s back and another on his shoulder in support.
Connery stopped to sign an autograph for a fan before getting in a car.
By the time he appeared at the US Open, Connery appeared much more alert and looked engrossed while watching the game.
At one point he beamed while holding a bottle of water and looked animated as Federer, 36, struggled against his opponent, a virtually unknown American 19-year-old.
Mr Connery vowed in 2011 not to make any more public appearances and said he wanted to stay at his home in the Bahamas.
But he is a huge tennis fan and could not resist the lure of the US Open, where he has been seen in previous years.
Connery played James Bond in seven films and is consistently voted the best actor to play the part.
His last appearance on screen was in The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen in 2003.
A spokesman for Connery said: “The bruise was from a fall. He is absolutely fine.”