Owen turned down 007 over Connery fear
06/02/2006 - 19:00:50British hearth-throb Clive Owen rejected the role of suave superspy James Bond because he was terrified of following in idol Sean Connery's footsteps.
The 41-year-old was hotly tipped to beat Daniel Craig to the famous tuxedo-clad role in latest 007 offering Casino Royale, but was convinced his performance would not match the standard set by Scot Connery.
He tells Glamour magazine: "Playing James Bond would have been like entering a golden prison, and I doubt that would have suited me. I may be the only actor who consistently said, 'No, no and no'.
"I never understood what I would have been able to add to the role, or how I could play a character who has already been defined in the past. For me, Sean Connery is the real James Bond."
