HELLO! March 17, 2005

FACING A LAWSUIT ALLEGING HE IS A ‘RUDE’ NEIGHBOUR

SIR SEAN CONNERY

SHOWS HE IS THE PERFECT HOST AT HOME IN LONDON

Relaxed in each other’s company – they celebrate the 35^th anniversary of their first meeting this month – the Connerys are happy to open the doors to their London pied-a-terre

Sir Sean Connery could not be more welcoming as he opens the door to his London apartment. He leads the way into his elegantly decorated living room, where his French wife Micheline is sitting on one of the large comfortable sofas, and opens a chilled bottle of Pinot Grigio.

            Friendly, polite, immaculate -it is hard to believe that this is the same man who only recently was branded "foul-mouthed and rude", "unkempt and dishevelled" by a disgruntled neighbour who is suing the actor for £16million for allegedly making his life "hell".

            In court papers filed by Dr Burton Sultan, an ophthalmologist who lives directly below the Connerys' apartment in New York, the 74-year-old star is accused of harassment. He is alleged to have disturbed his neighbour by playing loud music late at night, of damaging his property and possessions through renovation work and, bizarrely, he is charged with behaving "like a fat old man". He is also accused of swearing at Dr Sultan's daughter, slamming the door in her face and of being "a real life bully".

            All of which sounds quite extreme when you consider that this is a man who rose to worldwide fame by playing debonair James Bond, received a knighthood from the Queen in 2000 and last autumn was bestowed with Morocco's highest honour by me King. The Oscar-winning star is also renowned for his charity work. He donated his fee from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves to charity and in 1991 was awarded the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh.

            He remains unfazed by Dr Sultan’s attack on his character and the litigation - his spokeswoman commented that the lawsuit was "ridiculous" and that in America, anyone could sue for anything. She also pointed out that Sean and his wife don't spend much time at the Upper East Side Tudor-style apartment - which is actually owned by Micheline's son Stephane -because they are now mainly based in the Bahamas, where the actor is currently working on his memoirs.

            But today the Connerys are at their light and airy apartment in the heart of Belgravia. Happy and relaxed in each other's company -they celebrate the 35th anniversary of their first meeting this month -they are more than willing to open the doors to their London pied-a-terre. The Scotsman confesses that they both prefer to spend time in the Bahamas where artist Micheline paints – she is busy preparing for an exhibition of her work in Paris later this year – and where Sean likes to play golf and swims.

            He is taking a sabbatical from acting in order to concentrate on his autobiography and to work on other creative projects.  Last autumn, for example, he got together with Oscar-winning film composer Vangelis to make a CD of Cavafy’s Ithaca.  Sean recited the poem, Vangelis composed the music and the CD was released in Greece together with a book of Micheline’s paintings entitled A Journey in Colour.  All profits were donated to the charitable project Friends of the Child, and Sean plans to collaborate with Vangelis and Micheline again on a similar project with a wider release.

            In the meantime, Sean is enjoying Caribbean living.  “I love the way I spend my time in the Bahamas.  Everyone leaves me in peace,” he said recently.  “I read, play golf, swim lengths in my pool and watch the sun go down.  What more could I want?”

            The couple may spend most of their time away from Britain these days but that doesn’t mean that they haven’t put heart and soul into creating a home from home in London.  The apartment has been elegantly decorated throughout in soft cream tones and neutral hues, which form the perfect backdrop for their collection of beautiful and exotic artifacts from around the world.

            “The salon is rather small but I have put an antique-style mirror on one wall to discreetly enlarge the room,” says Micheline.  “When I furnished the apartment some years ago this marble portico fitted perfectly, by chance, between the radiator and the wall.  Unbelievable – an ancient work sur measure!”

            The objects and artworks dotted about the apartment form a colourful map of their lives and travels.  On one wall hangs a framed page of the Koran:  “A gift from the wife of the Lebanese Prime Minister,” says Micheline.  In a corner of the living room, a beautiful Greco-Roman head, found in a river in Tunisia, catches the eye.  In front of the fireplace, a snow-white Parian marble sculpture made by a Thai artist based in Greece provides subtle contrast.

            All cultures seem to combine in this apartment, in a sophisticated fusion of tastes.  But the object that seems to give Micheline the most pleasure is an Egyptian mask, given to her by her son Stephane.  “He’s the Sotheby’s New York chief – the one who recently sold a Picasso for $500million!” she says proudly.

INTERVIEW: DIMITRI ANDONOPOULOS & KIMON FRANGAKIS
PHOTOS: ALEXANDRE & EMILIE PHOTOS