Sir Sean with his quaich at Goldsmiths Hall, Edinburgh

Perhaps the importance of a comprehensive and enlightened education is one of Sir Sean and Atatürk's subjects of conversation; or perhaps, moved by the ageless beauty of the quaich that they pass between them, they talk about the devotion that each of them has for his own country. Sir Sean admires Atatürk's self-discipline in bringing his country together but not being tempted to follow a policy of expansion. When it comes to Scotland, he finds that her elemental beauty is encapsulated by the view from the air over the Firth of Forth; whereas her most outstanding work of art is Edinburgh Castle itself. Edinburgh is a frequent motif in Sir Sean's conversation and it is crime writer Ian Rankin, whose Rebus novels examine the lesser known and darker aspects of Edinburgh life, whom he believes to be Scotland's major creative force.

Sir Sean has had many memorable drinks in his time, not least after the opening of the Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood in 2004. Now, as the two legendary figures talk on late into the night, another tremendous moment is being formed, and Sir Sean is determined to make it last. "I'll have another one," he says.

Sir Sean is an Oscar winning actor, producer and Scottish icon, who has appeared in over 65 films. Best known for his appearance in the Bond films, Sir Sean has also starred in more recent films such as The Hunt for Red October, Rising Sun, Just Cause and The Rock.

Sir Sean's chosen charity is
The Scottish International Education Trust