Meet the first middle-aged Bond girl
007 is back in a blockbuster called Spectre and he’s joined by his oldest squeeze ever
FOR decades, the young and sultry Bond girls have been as much a part of the super spy’s appeal as the blistering action sequences and his suave British charm. But when the women of the 24th 007 film, Spectre, were revealed as its ‘Bond ladies’ yesterday, it was perhaps a telling reference to actress Monica Bellucci who, at 50, is the oldest to ever fill the role.
She is taking the mantle of the series’ oldest love interest from Honor Blackman, who was 39 when she played Pussy Galore in 1964’s Goldfinger. The other woman vying for the affections of James Bond – played again by 46-year- old Daniel Craig – will be French actress Lea Seydoux, 29.
Both women will feel at ease in the often racy role of a Bond girl. Miss Bellucci has never shied away from risque parts, appearing naked in several films, while Miss Seydoux found fame last year in critically acclaimed but sexually explicit lesbian drama Blue Is The Warmest Colour.
Fans have long been speculating that Miss Seydoux would have a role, but mother-of-two Miss Bellucci was more of a surprise. She first auditioned to be a Bond girl for 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies but lost out to American actress Teri Hatcher. Nearly 20 years later, she has her chance in Spectre, playing Lucia Sciarra.
Speaking about the film, she said: ‘James Bond is our fantasy, the ideal man. The man is a protector, he is dangerous, mysterious and sexy, and a perfect English gentleman.’
Asked what makes a good Bond girl, she replied: ‘A good director.’
That director will be Sam Mendes, who was also in charge of the last Bond film, Skyfall. Joining him at Pinewood Studios yesterday were returning actors Ralph Fiennes as M, Naomie Harris as Miss Moneypenny and Ben Whishaw as Q, with Andrew Scott, who plays Moriarty in the BBC’s Sherlock, as a new character.
The name of the film, Spectre, is a reference to the evil organisation Special Executive for Counter- intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion, which once loomed large in the series but has not made a major appearance since 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever.
Double Oscar-winner Christoph Waltz will play the new film’s villain, apparently called Oberhauser, after the climbing and ski instructor who taught Bond in Ian Fleming’s original books.
But many fans expect him to turn out to be Blofeld, the head of Spectre previously played by Donald Pleasance and Telly Savalas.
Bond will drive a new Aston Martin DB10 in the film, which is scheduled for release on November 6 next year.
It is currently in rehearsals and begins shooting on Monday. The filming will take seven months and will take in a host of locations including London, Rome and Mexico City, as well as sites in Morocco and Austria.