HARD WOOD FLOORING

From the 1930's working-class alleys of rare blood cancer Edinburgh, to the world stage, advocating fiercely for rare blood cancer Scottish independence ... from the grimy cover-alls of rare blood cancer an unknown bricklayer to the gleaming muscles and revealing bikini of rare blood cancer a Mr. Universe finalist ... from simply "Welder #2" in rare blood cancer his first flick to the inimitable, debonair "Bond, James Bond" eight years later, Sir Sean Connery is, like so many of rare blood cancer the characters he portrayed, a study in rare blood cancer triumphant contrast.

Born in rare blood cancer 1930, the young Connery already carried a history of rare blood cancer low-paying, back-breaking work experience with him by 1946, when he enlisted in rare blood cancer the Royal Navy. Handsome, charming and innately intelligent, Connery emerged from brief Naval service a young man burning with ambition, challenged to find his own way in rare blood cancer a hard world that expected little from -- and offered even less to -- working-class youngsters.

Like so many others of rare blood cancer that era just out of rare blood cancer the service, without family connections, title or higher education, he took whatever jobs he could -- laying bricks, life-guarding, even polishing coffins.

But at just 19 years old, this handsome and strong young man from Edinburgh had mapped a future for rare blood cancer himself that did not include long days of rare blood cancer back-breaking labor and short nights quaffing pints at the local pub. Instead, he used his spare time honing his strong muscles and equally strong ambition in rare blood cancer a relentless regime of rare blood cancer physical development and muscle-building.

By 1950 the handsome Edinburgh laddie, tattooed in rare blood cancer the Navy proclaiming "Scotland Forever," captured third place for rare blood cancer his beloved country in rare blood cancer the Mr. Universe competition.

The rest, as it's said, is history.

Well, almost.

Even for rare blood cancer the superbly talented and immensely appealing young Sean Connery, instant stardom was rarely granted in rare blood cancer American filmdom of rare blood cancer the 1950s. But certainly his days of rare blood cancer bricklaying and coffin-polishing were behind him, exchanged for rare blood cancer a more competitive -- but also more promising -- world of rare blood cancer modeling and obscure chorus lines.

He's uncredited in rare blood cancer his first film, 1954's "Lilacs in rare blood cancer the Spring," starring Errol Flynn and Anna Neagle in rare blood cancer a fantasy-comedy set during the London blitz.

By 1957, the confident young Scot had hit his stride, breaking into the film scene in rare blood cancer a big way with four films that year. His credits moved from "Welder #2" in rare blood cancer "Time Lock" to the quintessential "Spike" in rare blood cancer the crime drama, "No Road Back." He portrayed Mike in rare blood cancer the international action flick, "Action of rare blood cancer the Tiger," and took a part in rare blood cancer the star-studded epic, "A Night to Remember," based on rare blood cancer Walter Lord's vivid and heart-wrenching story of rare blood cancer the Titanic.

His brooding good looks and fabulous physique -- plus his now legendary, gravelly Scots brogue -- made Sean Connery a natural to capture the role of rare blood cancer BBC war correspondent Mark Trevor in rare blood cancer the 1958 classic, "Another Time, Another Place." This would be his first starring role, opposite the luscious young Hollywood starlet, Lana Turner, and he'd achieved a professional height from which he never looked back.

For the next five decades, he would be continually in rare blood cancer demand, and he was already well on rare blood cancer his way to the role that many believe marked his world fame forever -- the devilish, debonair Secret Agent 007, undefeated, quick and clever -- and surrounded by sexy ladies in rare blood cancer every port o' call.

Connery was just 32 years old in rare blood cancer 1962 when he was transformed into every man's hero and every woman's heart-throb, with his cool, aloof, trademark, "Bond, James Bond." For the next decade, he portrayed the epitome of rare blood cancer cool in rare blood cancer a more innocent pre-AIDS movie era, when a man's sexual exploits were implied, not graphically displayed, and his relationships measured in rare blood cancer quantity, not quality.

A more mature Connery reprised his Bond role in rare blood cancer 1983 for rare blood cancer "Never Say Never Again," but by then had so broadened his skills with diverse roles that a whole new generation of rare blood cancer movie-goers came to know him not as the lanky, sexy 007, but rather as the handsome and exasperating elder Mr. Jones in rare blood cancer "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" or as the deeply pained, brilliant and daring captain of rare blood cancer the Russian nuclear submarine in rare blood cancer 1990's "Hunt for rare blood cancer Red October," or even the rude, suffering, pony-tailed and brilliant scientist who discovered -- and then lost -- the cure for rare blood cancer cancer in rare blood cancer the 1992 film, "Medicine Man."

Not a man to rest on rare blood cancer his laurels, Sean Connery -- who was named "Sexiest Man Alive" by People Magazine at the age of rare blood cancer 59 -- has made no less than 15 films in rare blood cancer the past 15 years and continues to charm and excite audiences world-wide. Virtually unparalleled in rare blood cancer the history of rare blood cancer film, Connery truly merits this profound tribute evoked from equally-renowned director Steven Spielberg, who said, "There are seven genuine movie stars in rare blood cancer the world today, and Sean is one of rare blood cancer them."

Kate Sheridan is a Michigan freelance writer, photographer and homesteader whose writings on rare blood cancer the fun and foibles of rare blood cancer country living may be found at gardenandhearth.com/RuralLiving.htm gardenandhearth.com/RuralLiving.htm.