Edinburgh News
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Film star Sir Sean Connery phoned St Thomas of Aquins to explain he couldn’t make his appointment. |
Of coursh I really am Sean Connery, honesht
24th
January 2003
BY JULIA FIELDS
WHEN you have one of
the most famous voices and best known faces in the world, you have to
face a problem that no-one else ever even thinks about.
So many people do impressions of you that when you do make a call it is possible to find no-one believes it’s really you.
That’s exactly what happened when Lynsey Mackay picked up the receiver and heard the burr of one of the world’s most famous actors on the other end - she was convinced she was the victim of just another prankster.
"This is Sean, Sean Connery," the caller drawled, to Ms Mackay’s disbelief. Little did the college student know, it really was the superstar on the other end of the line.
There was a stunned silence as thoughts about falling victim to a wind-up merchant flashed through the 23-year-old’s brain. Unperturbed, Sir Sean proceeded to explain that he wouldn’t be able to open St Thomas of Aquins High School’s new building because of filming commitments.
Ms Mackay, a social work student at Stevenson College, who was filling in as receptionist at the school , managed to regain her composure in time to take a message for the head teacher. But it was only when the movie superstar carried on talking so calmly that she realised it was no joke.
She said: "He sounded exactly like James Bond. That’s when I thought this has to be a wind-up. I’d been listening to Real Radio all morning and they’re always doing wind-ups."
But as the conversation continued and the punchline never came, Mackay realised that it must be true.
"He asked to speak to the headteacher. I said she wasn’t in and that the school was closed for the Easter holidays.
"It was only as the conversation continued I realised that it must be true. It was him."
Ms Mackay added: " I think [my disbelief] was partly because he took the time and phoned in. You’d expect someone to phone for him or a letter to be written. I think that really says something about him."
Headteacher Marian Docherty had invited the celebrity by letter to attend the official opening of their new £14 million building this autumn because of his links with the Tollcross community.
The children of Sir Sean’s brother Neil were once students at St Thomas of Aquins.
But school officials were certainly not prepared for the actor’s personal response.
Mrs Docherty said: "I was really pleased he had taken the time and explained why he couldn’t do it. It was because he was filming in the Czech Republic. I’m just disappointed I wasn’t there to take the call. It should have been me."
Meanwhile, the pupils from St Thomas’ had to make do with a slightly less glamorous star visitor. Mrs Docherty said: "We were quite happy to have Jack McConnell instead."
Sir Sean may have the most distinctive Scottish brogue in the world, but he still has a hard time convincing people of his identity. His brother Neil confirmed: "It happens all the time. It’s either him or it’s not."
Real Radio Breakfast Show presenter Robin Galloway tried out his best Connery impression on an unsuspecting Englishman a few months ago.
Mr Galloway said: "We phoned a guy who was selling an Aston Martin and he actually thought he was selling the car to Sean.
"We were asking questions like does it have machine guns on the front and a cocktail bar in the back.
"The guy was really taken in by it. Mind you, if you phone somebody south of the Border, they think that anyone with a Scottish accent is Sean Connery."
So many people do impressions of you that when you do make a call it is possible to find no-one believes it’s really you.
That’s exactly what happened when Lynsey Mackay picked up the receiver and heard the burr of one of the world’s most famous actors on the other end - she was convinced she was the victim of just another prankster.
"This is Sean, Sean Connery," the caller drawled, to Ms Mackay’s disbelief. Little did the college student know, it really was the superstar on the other end of the line.
There was a stunned silence as thoughts about falling victim to a wind-up merchant flashed through the 23-year-old’s brain. Unperturbed, Sir Sean proceeded to explain that he wouldn’t be able to open St Thomas of Aquins High School’s new building because of filming commitments.
Ms Mackay, a social work student at Stevenson College, who was filling in as receptionist at the school , managed to regain her composure in time to take a message for the head teacher. But it was only when the movie superstar carried on talking so calmly that she realised it was no joke.
She said: "He sounded exactly like James Bond. That’s when I thought this has to be a wind-up. I’d been listening to Real Radio all morning and they’re always doing wind-ups."
But as the conversation continued and the punchline never came, Mackay realised that it must be true.
"He asked to speak to the headteacher. I said she wasn’t in and that the school was closed for the Easter holidays.
"It was only as the conversation continued I realised that it must be true. It was him."
Ms Mackay added: " I think [my disbelief] was partly because he took the time and phoned in. You’d expect someone to phone for him or a letter to be written. I think that really says something about him."
Headteacher Marian Docherty had invited the celebrity by letter to attend the official opening of their new £14 million building this autumn because of his links with the Tollcross community.
The children of Sir Sean’s brother Neil were once students at St Thomas of Aquins.
But school officials were certainly not prepared for the actor’s personal response.
Mrs Docherty said: "I was really pleased he had taken the time and explained why he couldn’t do it. It was because he was filming in the Czech Republic. I’m just disappointed I wasn’t there to take the call. It should have been me."
Meanwhile, the pupils from St Thomas’ had to make do with a slightly less glamorous star visitor. Mrs Docherty said: "We were quite happy to have Jack McConnell instead."
Sir Sean may have the most distinctive Scottish brogue in the world, but he still has a hard time convincing people of his identity. His brother Neil confirmed: "It happens all the time. It’s either him or it’s not."
Real Radio Breakfast Show presenter Robin Galloway tried out his best Connery impression on an unsuspecting Englishman a few months ago.
Mr Galloway said: "We phoned a guy who was selling an Aston Martin and he actually thought he was selling the car to Sean.
"We were asking questions like does it have machine guns on the front and a cocktail bar in the back.
"The guy was really taken in by it. Mind you, if you phone somebody south of the Border, they think that anyone with a Scottish accent is Sean Connery."