R&B star Ne-Yo relied on a bizarre source of inspiration while recording his 2007 album Because of You - he used Sean Connery's portrayal of James Bond as his muse.

The So Sick hitmaker is a huge fan of the superspy franchise - particularly admiring Connery's role as 007 - and was desperate to incorporate the character into his album.

He explains, "Sean Connery is an absolute gentleman. His portrayal of James Bond was a lot of the inspiration for the album. I love his look, his swagger. The ladies loved him and all the guys wanted to be him.

"He never let people see him sweat and he had an answer for any situation. In essence, as Bond he was strong - regal but not bossy and confident but not conceited."

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(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)