Inside Sean Connery's $34M French Home Where He Lived with Wife of 45 Years When He Had an Affair

Scottish actor Sean Connery starred in various films but was best known for playing 007 in the early "James Bond" spy movies. He had a high-profile affair with a woman who later said she was disgusted with him after their breakup.

Award-winning film star Sean Connery was the first actor to portray fictional British secret agent James Bond. The role originated in "Dr. No."

Apart from his classic stint on the film franchise, Connery also starred in movies such as "The Untouchables," "Robin and Marian," and "Indian Jones and the Last Crusade."

The Scottish movie star began his acting career in the 1950s when he was cast in numerous UK films and television programs. He landed the prominent lead role of James Bond in "Dr. No" in the early '60s.

Connery continued the role in follow-ups like "Thunderball" and "Goldfinger" while gaining popularity. In 1988, He won an Academy Award for supporting actor in "The Untouchables." Before retiring from acting, the A-Lister later starred in "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen."

The Edinburgh native was married to his second wife for 45 years, even though they did not have kids. The couple permanently lived in a gorgeous French Riviera home in the 1980s and 1990s.

Connery, whose spouse was Micheline Roquebrune, had an affair during that time. The house, which overlooks Port de Nice and lies 30 minutes from Monaco, is still referred to locally as "Sean Connery's home." Here are details about Connery's marriage and his lavish $34M home.

CONNERY'S MARRIAGE WITH HIS DEVOTED WIFE OF 45 YEARS ROQUEBRUNE

Connery and his wife Roquebrune were both married previously. She had been married twice before, and he had already split from his first spouse, Diane Cilento.

The duo met in 1970 at a golf tournament in Morrocco. Talking about her spouse, Roquebrune, a Moroccan-French painter, said this about Connery:

"He was so gorgeous, and we had a wonderful life together."

Roquebrune revealed she and Connery had an instant connection and romped within 24 hours of meeting. Connery shared: "In the early days, it was difficult to see each other. She was still living in North Africa with her children."

It was not until two years later that Connery could not get the beautiful Roquebrune off his mind and asked her to meet up with him in Spain. She was hesitant but went to meet up with him either way, and once she arrived, Roquebrune recalled:

He locks his eyes on mine and says, 'I've missed you …. I can't stop thinking about you, and I can't forget you."

The pair married in May 1975 in a private ceremony in Gibraltar after meeting five years earlier. Connery said of his wife: "Micheline is an amazing woman. She is the love of my life."

The couple had a powerful connection, so much so that "The Rock" star once recollected recognizing his wife by just her feet, explaining:

"We were in separate queues coming off different flights. There was a partition, and underneath I saw these feet. I immediately recognized them and tried to go through to see her but wasn't allowed."

Roquebrune is a painter born in 1929. She created her work using "simplified forms, unexpected croppings and changes of scale." Apart from art, the 93-year-old has diverse interests as she also produces plays.

Her Broadway play "Art" earned a Tony Award. Roquebrune was a keen golfer and often played golf with her beloved husband.

The couple lived on New Providence Island in the Bahamas, where they enjoyed their time in a large villa and prioritized date nights. Connery sadly died on October 31, 2020; his final months were blighted by dementia.

Roquebrune supported her husband during his last days of life and was with him when he died. She said the illness did not serve her spouse any purpose because he could not fully express himself.

"At least he died in his sleep, and it was just so peaceful. I was with him all the time, and he slipped away. It was what he wanted."

Roquebrune described Connery as a "model of a man" and admitted that living without him would be difficult moving forward while consoling herself that at least he died in peace:

"He was a model of a man. It is going to be very hard without him. I know that. But it could not last forever, and he went peacefully."

The couple's marriage survived Connery's well-documented affair in the 1980s with singer-songwriter Lynsey de Paul, as Roquebrune stayed in light of it.

LYNSEY DE PAUL REGRETTED HER AFFAIR WITH MARRIED CONNERY

Connery was a ladies' man back in the days, and he was said to have had numerous affairs throughout his marriage to Roquebrune. His longest love affair was with de Paul, and their infidelity lasted several months.

The pair met at a cocktail party in 1989 while the English singer was sitting next to Connery's wife on a sofa. De Paul revealed in an interview with The Evening Standard in 2007 that Connery gave her his phone number and wooed her relentlessly:

"I didn't want to have an affair with him, and I tried to keep our relationship platonic, but he pursued me relentlessly. He wasn't my type at all because I'm not usually attracted to the macho type."

However, the affair ended abruptly when the former couple met up one weekend for a romantic getaway, and Connery told de Paul that he would ring her the following weekend.

That was the last time she ever heard from him. Looking back on the relationship, the "Sugar Me" singer said she was naïve to have had an affair with Connery:

"I was a stupid girl to become involved with him. I don't think I was in love with him – I was just flattered by the full-on attention."

However, de Paul later changed her mind: "In the end, I thought: 'Why not?' I didn't know his wife, so I didn't feel I was betraying her by having an affair."

De Paul later said she deeply regretted the affair after reading that Connery stated it was okay to hit a woman with an open-handed slap. She said she was disgusted with him when he promoted violence towards women.

The producer noted she was not aware of Connery's violent side when she was dating him but was appalled when she read about what he said regarding violence against women.

INSIDE CONNERY'S FRENCH HOME, WHERE HE LIVED WITH HIS WIFE DURING HIS AFFAIR

Apart from the scandalous affair, Connery and his lovely wife Roquebrune had a beautiful home in France, where the couple resided there permanently in the 1980s and 1990s.

The property overlooks Port de Nice and lies 30 minutes from Monaco. Locals still refer to it as "Sean Connery's home" to date, per Forbes.com.

The colossal, five-floor Cap de Nice mansion has breathtaking views across the Mediterranean Sea. The abode was built in the 1920s and featured a distinct Belle Epoque style.

In November 2020, Hello Magazine reported the property was listed on the market for $34 million. The house has five bedrooms, five bathrooms, and two jaw-dropping indoor swimming pools.

It also boasts a gym, spa, gourmet kitchen facilities, and a rooftop terrace. The main bedroom has two bathrooms and comprises the entire mansion's entire top floor.

It also has access to a private, period-appropriate cage elevator. There are manicured terraces and more greenery surrounding the estate on the grounds, with two guest villas and separate staff quarters.

The property has automatic gates and a sweeping driveway. On the inside, there are many windows to showcase the captivating view of the ocean.

The gorgeous home also featured as a backdrop in several scenes for Connery's last Bond film, "Never Say Never Again," in 1983. The 10,700 square-foot villa includes a salt-water pool, three reception rooms, five bathrooms, and a fitness room.

The selling agent Edward de Mallet Morgan of Knight Frank said the mansion had a feel of royal families with the likes of Grace Kelly and Coco Chanel.

"You have the sea view and the coastline and inland view, so even at night-time, the view twinkles with lights," Morgan stated.