MOVIELAND and TV TIME May 1965

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE CONNERY CILENTO SPLIT!

Unaware of any rift rumors, talented Diane Cilento talks about her famous husband – and tells what it’s like to be “Mrs. James Bond” or “Mrs. 007,” mother of 008!

WHEN I first walked into the Connery household the thing that impressed me most was the muted atmosphere. There was something missing but at that precise moment I couldn't quite define it. It took me a few minutes of talk with Diane Cilento's little girl, by her first marriage, to discover what it was. She was a bright bubbly little blonde froth of six year old and her happy indifference mocked the cool formality of the home.

            Miss Cilento's secretary was friendly and cordial, and a bit embarrassed because my interview appointment with Miss Cilento was for 6:00 P.M. and she was still sleeping. I wasn't in too much of a hurry so I enjoyed a drink and chat, first with the little girl, then with the secretary.

            I studied the house; large, old and somewhat rambling for a London home. It sits on a tiny street all by itself with only a bare, discarded yard and one rather desolate tree for companionship. The library-den, downstairs, is wall-trimmed with books on every subject. Connery is an avid reader, thanks to the urging of his friend Pat Henderson, whom he met when he first began acting on the stage at twenty-two. It was Henderson who whetted the Scotsman's appetite for culture and yet the basic dark, earthy nature of the man is still intact and showed in his home.

            The livingroom had a sofa facing a backyard window, and another along the wall, separated by a Polish rug that looked more like American Indian, and a very long white coffee table. In the corner of the L-shaped room was a mahogany record console and a portable TV stood in rigid immobility, as though keeping watch on its master's neat gray and black Jaguar parked out in front. The narrow stairs leading to the second landing had one bathroom between flights, and the bedrooms were largish and rather bare in furnishings.

            The Connery's huge blond Alsatian kept nudging me in friendly fashion. The dog and child displayed the open, honest affection that animals and children share without shame. Although the home seemed a bit bare and uncluttered, I was comfortable and even though its master was a 1000 miles away in Spain, I felt him in every room. His dominant personality stained the atmosphere and attitude, overriding that of his wife.

            She arrived at last, small, slender, extremely attractive. She has long, loose, blonde hair, and wore a simple midnight blue dress, black leather pumps and no hose. Her hand felt tiny in my own and when she greeted me, she appeared not to be looking at me, but off into a distance.

            Diane Cilento first achieved fame as the robust hussy in "Tom Jones." She's currently in "Rattle of a Simple Man" and will be seen in "The Agony and the Ecstasy." She seated herself comfortably across from me and offered me Scotch and water, impressed that I, being an American, took it without ice. Many women are frequently on guard with other women, but Miss Cilento seemed to enjoy being interviewed. For the next hour, I asked her question after question and she was utterly frank about everything.

How did you get started in the entertainment world?

As a dancer, but I wasn't a professional. Actually, Dad worked for the U.N. as a doctor, you know, and brought us over to America and I got involved with a theatre group in Abbington, Virginia called The Barter Theatre. After that, we came over here and I got a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic arts.

Do you have a preference for roles?

No. Just whatever catches my imagination. Should an actor be type-cast? If he's a performer he can only play himself, if he's an actor, he can play a variety of roles. A lot of people play only themselves.

What is Sean?

Sean is an actor.

Well then, what do you think of other actor's abroad, seeing that you worked on both Continents?

I'm always fascinated by watching other actors. I just saw "Hamlet" done by a group of Italian actors. They were superb. Actors depend a lot on their directors. Sometimes a director has a tremendous idea or something.

Again, does Sean come into this category of yours?

Well, I can look at him completely objectively. But you see I know what he's trying to do. If you know an actor you can get completely lost in the story.

Do you like to work abroad?

No. I prefer it here. I like going to odd places, but I like to know I have a home to come back to. I liked working in Italy in "The Agony and the Ecstasy," but really feel working is the same in every country...you still have to get up early in the morning.

Do you always like your co-star?

No.

Does it affect your work?

Not always. In acting you have to keep your mind off your likes and dislikes.

Did you at any time, or do you still, have to compromise yourself for your career?

Never have. That's been my problem. As far as sleeping with anyone for my career, maybe others have. I haven't.

Who was the most important co-star you worked with to date?

They all are really. Rex Harrison, although I had no scenes with him worth speaking of, is marvelous. I like working with really professional people, know what I mean? I hate to wait on unprofessionals, don't you? Take Jack Lemmon ...he's marvelous. He plays off his co-stars, oh he doesn't, you know, he doesn't rob them, but he works off them, that's proper acting, that's real acting. It's very much give and take.

Do you think it's purely luck that makes an actor?

It is luck a lot of the time-to the extent that in any business it's luck. You could be in the right place at the right time. Look, I wanted very much to do "Moll Flanders," but Twentieth wouldn't give me a stop date so I couldn't do it. It can work both ways -for you and against you.

Would you eventually give up acting to concentrate on being Mrs. Sean Connery?

No. I would hate to be, just Mrs. Sean Connery. I don't think he'd like it either, much as he may protest about it.

Well then, just how does he feel about your working?

Well, Sean doesn't want me to work, yet he doesn't want me to give it up. It's sort of a natural challenge to him that I am an actress. Oh here, have one of mine. (She offered me a cigarette and lit it. We both relaxed a moment.)

I take it then you're satisfied with your life now, or would you change it?

No, I don't think I'd change it. I'm pretty fatalistic about things. There are a few things only, one can change. I know Sean would choose something else. If he could, he'd have been a farmer.

Is that the truth?

Yes.

Do you think then that you're a good wife?

Well, I think I am. I mean I'm not a professional wife or homemaker but I know I'm a good wife. I kinda like being married.

Who rules the roost?

Sean doesn't rule exactly, but he's very strict, especially with my daughter. He knows she can work around me. He's more lenient with the boy....

Because it's his?

No, not necessarily. It's just that he thinks because he's so little, he's helpless. Well ...children are a lot tougher than people think they are.

I'm getting a slight insight into your married life. Just what is Sean like to live with?

What? What does he like to live with?

(Smirking) No, Diane, I'm sorry. I mean what is he like to..

(Laughing) Oh! I thought you meant what does he like to live with-a cow or a horse or, oh, I'm sorry, I misunderstood. Well, he likes a nice big meal and a good drink at the end of the day. We like to zip around to places. He has a sense of humour and is very basic. He's one of the most basic people I know. He doesn't gad about and is easy to understand. He's quite imaginative. He isn't as concerned about acting as most actors I know. He's too basic and he loves his privacy. You know you wouldn't be here now if he were home...it's only because he's in Spain that I was able to have you here.

Yes. I know and I appreciate that. How did you and Sean meet?

Well, we were both working in the theatre then and I admired him tremendously as an actor...not as a man then. When I returned to Australia to have my first child, he wrote me letters. Later, when I returned to England, we went out. We were married when I was five months pregnant with the boy....

Whose his?

Yes, does that shock you?

No. Not really.

You can print that. I don't care...everybody in the business knows it, but you're the first journalist I actually admitted it to.

Diane, are you superstitious?

Yes. I don't like passing an empty hearse.

Any particular reason?

No. I just don't know really.

It's a tale that when you pass an empty hearse, the next one will bear you.

Is that it? I never knew...I just don't like passing one.

Do you have any pet peeves?

Staleness. Rigidity of personality and preconceived ideas. Do you know what I mean? Doesn't it irritate you when somebody always forms an opinion on something before he knows it?

Yes, very much. Do you enjoy traveling?

Yes. I like new places.

Diane, are you proud of your work?

Yes.

Why?

I just am, that's all.

Because of your background, do you believe in a class or classless society?

Classless. People are smothered by class. Unless you have the guts to step out, you're held down by class. Class society means inhibitions and makes lots of chips on lots of shoulders.

How do you feel about Church intervention in many public affairs?

That's a very strange but good question. All your questions have been the most intelligent I've been asked. I admire religion but it has too much control over countries like Italy and Ireland. Avid religion can be detrimental. People should believe in religion but it shouldn't affect politics.

Your husband is a golfer. Are you athletic? Do you like sports?

Yes, tennis and swimming. I play golf with Sean and often beat him.

What does he do then?

Asks for a rematch!

THE END

(See Diane Cilento in 20th Century- Fox' "The Agony and the Ecstacy." Sean's next is "Thunderball.")