For many fans, Connery still epitomizes everything about what makes James Bond such a popular character. He could be charming as well as tough and the Scottish actor seemed to be right at home in the nice suits and fast cars of the elite spy world. But Connery was hiding something from viewers, and it's hard to say whether they would have reacted so ionately to his portrayal of 007 if he hadn't concealed something about his appearance in order to play the part.

Sean Connery Wore A Toupee In All Of His James Bond Movies

From his very first appearance as James Bond, Sean Connery wore a toupee. In fact, every Sean Connery James Bond movie over the years showed him sporting a hairpiece to conceal the fact that he was losing his hair. After he stopped playing Bond, Connery gave up this practice and embraced being a bald film star, which did nothing to hinder his success nor his celebrity status - he was still named Sexiest Man Alive in 1989 by People Magazine.

Connery's toupee was attached on top with glue and then combed into the hair on the sides of his head enough to seamlessly blend in. Having a bald actor play James Bond wouldn't have given the secret agent the right aesthetic, nor would it have been authentic to Flemming's character. At the time, it was also thought that having Connery sport a thinning hairline wouldn't have projected the suave and debonair image that the role required.

Why Sean Connery's Toupee Never Affected His Performance As James Bond

Connery had been going bald since he was 21 and embraced wearing a hairpiece if it was necessary for the role (but didn't wear one in public). Much of the time, it's not even noticeable, though there's an underwater scene in Never Say Never Again where the toupee can be seen rising above his head. Amazingly, it wasn't more visible in movies that have a lot of action sequences and stunt work, particularly involving fast cars in high-speed chases, hanging out airplanes, and running.

Wearing a toupee didn't affect Connery's performance as James Bond because he never let it hinder his confidence, and You Only Live Twice even poked fun at Connery's secret. Connery's nonchalant portrayal had a lot to do with turning James Bond into one of the biggest male sex symbols in movie history, and that came from not being self-conscious about wearing a hairpiece. It was convincing enough to fool most fans, and in the end, helped become Connery's secret weapon.