More rumours published that Sean Connery has retired from acting

He has become almost as well known as an ambassador for Scotland as he has for his most famous role. Now it is rumoured Sir Sean Connery could be set to spend more time in his homeland - after retiring as an actor, reports The Scotsman (UK).

The rumours were sparked by Star Wars legend Harrison Ford, who hinted that Edinburgh-born Sir Sean, 74 - who starred opposite Ford in the last Indiana Jones movie - would not be available for a sequel because he had given up acting.

In an interview with Sky News, Ford was questioned about the forthcoming Indiana Jones 4.

Asked whether the Bond legend, who played Indy’s father Professor Henry Jones in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, would return for the latest film, Ford replied: "He says that he is now retired, so I don’t know."

A spokesman at the Creative Artists Agency, which represents sir Sean, would not comment on the rumours today. He said Sir Sean was currently unreachable.

The millionaire Scot, who lives in the Bahamas, is writing his memoirs on a life in the acting business.

He recently started Tinseltown talking about his future when he pulled out of the crime caper Josiah’s Canon at the last minute.

Director Brett Ratner said the Scots legend had quit the film after deciding to retire.

"Sean dropped out and decided to retire, unless that was just a ploy to get out of the movie," he said.

Other reports suggested Connery had left the movie, in which he would have starred as a Holocaust survivor who leads the world’s foremost team of bank robbers to raid a supposedly impenetrable bank in Switzerland filled with gold, to finish his memoirs.

Ian Freer, associate editor of Empire magazine, said that it was unlikely the actor would ever give up acting completely - as long as the part was right.

"I think actors say things and they don’t always definitely mean them," he said.

"I’m sure a part will come along that Connery will like and that will bring him out of this so-called retirement.

"We might see him slow down to a certain extent and take on fewer parts, but I think it’s unlikely he’ll retire completely. I haven’t heard anyone else mention this as a possibility."

There have been rumours in the past that Sir Sean was thinking of moving back and was house-hunting in various parts of Scotland, close to golf courses.

Last month SNP leader Alex Salmond said that it "was not beyond the realms of possibility" that Sir Sean would move back to Scotland as he "moves out of his film career."

And he added that "something could happen soon on a golf course near you."

Sir Sean had previously said he would only come back to live in Scotland if it was independent.

But the Oscar-winning former star, who grew up in the Capital’s Fountainbridge, has been visiting Scotland more frequently and was one of the big names to attend the opening of the new Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood last month.

Sir Sean was born in Edinburgh. He joined the Royal Navy after leaving school, and after being discharged on medical grounds went on to a succession of jobs, including labourer and lifeguard.

He competed for Scotland in the Mr. Universe competition in 1953, which led to work on the stage, TV, and eventually film.

Thanks to `` for the alert.

Discuss this news here...