Bond girl Eva Green says 007 should always be a man

Former Bond girl Eva Green has voiced her disapproval of the idea of a female James Bond.

Daniel Craig, who is about to star as Bond for a fifth time, will step down from the role next year. A number of high-profile actors including Emilia Clarke, Priyanka Chopra and Gillian Anderson have all called for the discussion of a female replacement.

But Green, who played Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale, told Vanity Fair: “I’m for women, but I really think James Bond should remain a man. It doesn’t make sense for him to be a woman.

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“Women can play different types of characters, be in action movies and be superheroes, but James Bond should always be a man and not be Jane Bond. There is history with the character that should continue. He should be played by a man.”

Green’s opinions “echo those of the Oscar-winning British actor Rachel Weisz”, says The Daily Telegraph. “Why not create your own story rather than jumping onto the shoulders and being compared to all those other male predecessors?” she said. “Women are really fascinating and interesting, and should get their own stories.”

But Idris Elba, rumoured to be in the running for the role himself, believes it could be a possibility.

Speaking to Variety last year, Elba said that Bond “could be a woman - could be a black woman, could be a white woman”.

He added: “Do something different with it. Why not?”

However, bookmakers don’t see the character swapping genders any time soon, backing Tom Hiddleston, Richard Madden and Tom Hardy as the most likely successors.