Kevin Costner is one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors and filmmakers, known worldwide for his many memorable performances in films like Dances with Wolves, Man of Steele, and, more recently, the TV series Yellowstone. The late Sean Connery was a legendary Scottish actor, perhaps best known for portraying James Bond. The two talented actors co-starred in two films together. The first was the 1987 crime film The Untouchables and the other the 1991 fantasy film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Given Costner’s and Connery’s extensive working relationship and chemistry on screen, it’s natural that fans wanted to know how they got along and what they thought of one another. Well, a few years before Sean Connery’s unfortunate passing in 2020, Costner went on the Late-Late Show with Craig Ferguson to discuss many topics, including his assessment of and relationship with Sean Connery.
Kevin Costner Revealed What He Really Thought Of Sean Connery During An Interview With Craig Ferguson
On February 19th, 2014, Oscar-winning actor Kevin Costner made a guest appearance on The Late-Late Show with Craig Ferguson. After the host complimented Costner’s eclectic resume of successful films, he mentioned what an honor it must have been for him to have worked twice alongside Sean Connery.
Kevin Costner responded: “You know what? I’ll say this. People ask you about the best actor you’ve ever worked with. And you know, I say this, and it eliminates certain actors you’ve worked with in a way when you answer, which you never really want to do. But Gene Hackman is one of the strongest actors I’ve ever worked with. But I think Sean Connery is the biggest star I have ever worked with.”
The Field of Dreams actor said, “I don’t want to diminish how great of an actor he was in his craft. But he was like the biggest star you’d ever met when he walked around the set.”
Craig Ferguson then relayed his own experience with the James Bond star: “They were having a thing once in Hollywood where they paid tribute to him. And that’s the night that I met him. And I was with my girlfriend at the time, who is now my wife. And Sean must have been about 73 years old at the time. And he came over and kinda said I’m Sean Connery,” the late-night host continued, “So, of course, I introduced him to my wife, and he said in his deep, smooth voice, ‘Hello, nice to meet you.’ And my wife started blushing all over. Afterward, I asked her what she was doing. And she said he’s Sean Connery. And I’m like, women go crazy for this guy; his sex appeal is insane.”
Throughout Ferguson’s story about Sean Connery, Costner smiled and added: “He’s such a fair man; I remember when he lived out of the country. If he does too much work, he loses a lot of money in taxes. Sean has always watched his money very, very carefully. But he was cautious with the producers when he took one particular job. And he went okay, I have to be out of here at a certain time. He was adamant about that, and the production crew grew lazy with the time constraints. And it put him in a spot, and I remember I caught him at the bar one night, and he said, Mr Nash, come over here,” said Costner, mimicking Connery’s tone.
Kevin Costner continued: “And, of course, if he calls you, you come. And Sean had a list of things, and he wanted me to look at that list. He asked me if I remembered this happening. At first, I realized that he was going to tear somebody’s head off over this, but that he wanted to ensure he was being fair. And yeah, I just thought he is a very fair man.”
Ferguson joked: “And also a very frightening man as well.” Craig Ferguson then asked Kevin Costner if he had ever played golf with him.
Costner revealed he had: “Just being with him was a fantastic experience. You know he loved the game, and his enthusiasm was infectious. Before I played with him, I played maybe once or twice a year with my father-in-law, but Sean loved it so much that I started to go more often. Working and hanging out with Sean Connery is one of the best experiences out of all the good things that have happened to me.
Craig Ferguson then stated that Sean Connery is a literal icon in his homeland of Scotland.
Kevin Costner Once Revealed That Sean Connery Gave Him Advice When He Had To Act Opposite Robert DeNiro
During the beginning stages of his career, Kevin Costner was still finding his path to stardom.
Costner’s breakout role was unarguably in the 1987 crime film The Untouchables, where he played U.S. Treasure Department special agent Eliot Ness. Acting alongside Kevin Costner were major Hollywood stars, most notably Robert DeNiro and Sean Connery.
Even though Kevin Costner and Robert DeNiro shared only a few minutes of screen time, Costner has since admitted that he was initially nervous about acting alongside him.
During a 2017 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Kevin Costner opened up about his experience working with Robert DeNiro and the advice Sean Connery gave him.
Costner revealed: “I had trouble with some of the scenes with [De Niro] because my character was very straight-arrow, and Robert was able to jump off the page.”
He then added:
I was trying to survive with my straight-arrow language against someone who was throwing a level of street language at me that had a level of improv to it. So it was hard for me to survive in some of those scenes, and Sean talked to me a little bit about it.
Sean Connery won his first and only Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in The Untouchables.