Former Bond Girl Sparks Backlash After Saying the Next James Bond ‘Must Be White

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Maryam d’Abo, a former James Bond actress, has sparked debate by stating her preference for the next 007 to be a white man. D’Abo, 65, played Kara Milovy in the 1987 film The Living Daylights and recently shared these views in an interview.

Honestly, when I heard her say that a Black actor shouldn’t play Bond unless they changed the name, I was pretty disappointed. It felt like she was saying the name James Bond is more important than having a diverse cast. She suggested creating a new hero instead, which, while a nice thought, just felt like she wasn’t willing to embrace a Black actor as James Bond. It’s okay to have a great Black hero, but why can’t that hero be Bond?

D’Abo expressed her hope that future James Bond films will remain faithful to Ian Fleming’s original novels. She emphasized her preference for Bond to remain a distinctly English character working for the British Secret Service.

Although she shared her initial thoughts, she also said she’d be happy to see other actors from outside the UK play the part, even someone like Jacob Elordi. She added, “Just because he’s Australian doesn’t mean he can’t do it!”

D’Abo portrayed Milovy, a cellist who was secretly a KGB agent, in a film starring Timothy Dalton as James Bond. During a mission in Bratislava, Bond chooses to let her live, and later gains her trust and eventually seduces her – a moment that became one of the most memorable romantic relationships in the Bond series.

The search for the next James Bond after Daniel Craig has generated a lot of buzz. Many Black British actors are in the running, with Aaron Pierre, 31, a leading contender. Pierre, known for voicing Mufasa in the recent Lion King film, has family roots in Jamaica, Sierra Leone, and Curacao. While Idris Elba was a popular choice, his age – 53 – might be a factor, as producers, including Barbara Broccoli, seem to be looking for someone younger, likely in their thirties.

I’m really hearing Callum Turner and Aaron Taylor-Johnson might be in the running for Bond! Apparently, Callum’s even been telling friends he thinks he’s got the part, which is exciting. And get this – there’s buzz that his fiancée, Dua Lipa, could be doing the theme song! That would be amazing if it’s true.

The next James Bond movie will be directed by Denis Villeneuve, and the script is being written by Steven Knight, who created the show Peaky Blinders. Producer Barbara Broccoli has said the new Bond will be a male in his thirties, and that the actor doesn’t necessarily have to be white.

Amazon bought the franchise last year for over a billion dollars. Though Deborah Broccoli and her brother Michael Wilson still technically co-own it, they’ve stepped back from making creative decisions.

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2026-02-15 19:48