Bond, James Bond and all the actors who brought him to life

After 15 years playing the MI6 agent, Daniel Craig said goodbye to his role as James Bond in No Time to Die (No Time to Die). His take on his character has not gone unnoticed. Craig premiered at Casino Royale, reboot in which this new Bond was introduced as a much rougher and less stylish character than Brosnan's version. However, after five films behind him, many consider him one of the best actors to have played the British spy. However, it all depends a lot on the point of view. Today we will review all actors who have played James Bond, agent 007, in chronological order. What has been your favorite?

All the actors who played James Bond

interpret to James Bond, the popular MI6 secret agent (British smart service), is a privilege and also a great responsibility. Not so much at the beginning, but today the actor who accepts the challenge must be very sure that he wants to put on the 007 suit, because if the performance is not convincing, it doesn't matter what you do afterwards, many will remember him as bond's flop.

In that situation you may be Tom Hardy, of which it has already been said that he would be considering the idea of ​​being the next James Bond in history. A role for which some see him without hesitation, while others the opposite despite liking his performances. But until it is confirmed, what we have are all the actors who have officially been 007 agents.

So, if that's okay with you, let's do a review. Of course, you should know beforehand that although there are six officers, there were two more that few know about: the first of all, who was Barry Nelson in 1954 with his interpretation of 007 in the television version of Royal Casino, and David Niven in 1967 with the adaptation of the same story to theaters. Don't worry, it may be the first time you read their names. However, if you're a Bond fan, the rest will be much more familiar to you.

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Barry Nelson (1954)

CAsino Royale was a novel published by Ian Flemming in April 1953 and, almost a year later, an adaptation starring actor Barry Wilson came to television. Technically he was the first James Bond, although as you will know from what happened later, he did not exactly go down in history for starring in any 007 adventure on the big screen. As a curiosity, this adaptation of CBS, lasting one hour for a space for stories called Climax, did not keep the original names created by Ian Flemming: James Bond was renamed Jimmy Bond and his inseparable companion Félix Leiter, a member of the CIA, was magically transformed into Clarence Leiter.

Technically it wasn't a feature film, but it wasn't a series either, so we left it within the curiosities of a character who eight years later would become an icon of the seventh art thanks to Albert R. Broccoli and United Artist... and the next actor who brought agent 007 to life.

Sean Connery (1962-1967)

The first actor who was in charge of giving life to this secret agent in theaters was Sean Connery and helped shape everything the popular spy conveyed in Ian Flemming's novels. An elegant, cold, calculating and relentless guy with that characteristic seductive point (although in some tapes it goes too far).

In addition, Sean Connery can also be proud of having played some of the best films in the entire saga with titles like Dr No, Goldfinger, From Russia with love, Thunderball or From Russia with love They are mythical for every fan. The best Bond? Surely yes. Also, Connery played to the advantage. As he was the first, he was able to shape the character in his own style, setting the general lines that his successors would have to follow. Among the current criticism of him, Connery's 007 has gone down in history as a macho and arrogant guy. However, they were attributes very consistent with the time in which he interpreted it, so we cannot stop seeing it within that context.

Be that as it may, the truth is that despite Connery's incredible and long career (in which he even has an Oscar), the role for which he will always be remembered will be for this one. And it is that few have managed to give him the elegance and attraction that this legendary actor gave to his interpretation - as a curiosity, it should be noted that it was to the taste of everyone except Fleming himself, as Connery came to confess in an interview.

Movies starred by Sean Connery

• Agent 007 vs. Dr. No
• From Russia with love
• James Bond vs. Goldfinger
• Operation Thunder
• We only live Twice
• Diamonds for eternity

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And never say never?

There is a film played by Sean Connery that we cannot consider as canonical or belonging to the main James Bond saga. Is about Never say never, released in the year 1983 (when there was already another James Bond, Roger Moore, who had five films behind him) and that barely cost 36 million dollars, but raised about 160 million in total. In other words, it was a complete success, but why can't we put it on the same level as the others?

The reason must be found at the origin of the production process, which was the responsibility of Talia Film and not of Eon Productions. The conflict arose when one of the writers of the original story of Operation Thunder with Ian Fleming, Kevin McClory, went to court to get ownership of his work and, at least, to be able to carry out his own version of the plot of the film released in 1976. After a legal battle of several years, he finally managed to agree with him and began to seek financing to carry out his new James Bond 007 project far away. from MGM and that Sean Connery would star again.

The film was also directed by the extraordinary Irvin Kershner, who two years earlier had triumphed with his sensational work in The Empire Strikes Back. In 1997, The rights of Never say never were left in the hands of MGM so, somehow, it returned to the fold of the rest of the franchise's titles.

George Lazenby (1969)

The next actor who played agent 007 was George lazenby, of Australian origin. He, without a doubt, is not one of the most popular nor one of the best, being considered by some as the worst james bond. Even so, it does have as its main merit having been the first non-British actor to play the role agent 007. In addition to being the youngest, with only 29 years old, he already put on the jacket suit, always impeccable, with which he appears in all the films.

However, after Sean Connery's work, it was very difficult for him to stand out, which, together with other personal conditions for the interpreter, meant that he only ended up starring in the film. 007 On her majesty's secret service. If you remembered, then you can say that you are a die-hard Bond fan. What's more, he is the only one in the entire series who got married.

Roger Moore (1973-1985)

After Lazenby, the saga resumed 4 years later with Roger Moore, one of the longest-lived Bonds and one of the most remembered by any lover of his stories. He was in charge of giving life to this popular secret agent during 7 feature films, including titles such as Live and Let Die, Octopussy o The Man with the Golden Gun.

It's hard to say if he's been the best or not. Perhaps it is easy to admit that it has been the best second James Bond, with a special charisma, and that against him played that the scripts for his films were not as good as other of his rivals for the title. But for those born in the '70s and '80s, this is their first James Bond.

Movies starred by Roger Moore

• Live and Let Die
• The Man with the Golden Gun
• The spy who loved me
• Moonraker
• Only for your eyes
• Octopussy
• Panorama to kill

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Timothy Dalton (1987-1993)

In the case of actor Timothy dalton He only played Bond in two films, High voltage y License to kill, and if he is remembered for something, it is for being one of the most impulsive of all those who gave life to the secret agent. They had a rather violent early…

It was not a bad 007 -in fact, many will say that it is the one that came closest to the profile that could be known in Fleming's books-, but the truth is that everything that Sean Connery and Roger Moore meant to him weighed too much. character. To this we must also add new disputes in the "Bond universe" between the production companies MGM and Eon Productions that caused Dalton's contract to not give for more.

With all this and perhaps somewhat unfairly, he became one of the lucky ones who played Jame Bond but without standing out too much.

Movies starred by Timothy Dalton

• High voltage
• License to kill

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Pierce Brosnan (1995-2002)

The penultimate actor to date who has given life to 007 is Pierce Brosnan, the 90's Bond that he was on a mission to put the secret agent back on the front line. A complicated challenge that with films like Golden Eye y Die another day achievement.

Pierce Brosnan had quite a difficult task with 007 although he had already been dreaming of the role before Timothy Dalton himself was released. The character had already been out of theaters for six years, and people thought the most famous British spy of all time was dead. Brosnan gave a different touch to James Bond, much more modern, distinguished and current, as well as media. He is credited with resurrecting 007, because the people returned to have interest again in his films. Even Dalton assures that his work was better valued after Brosnan's performance, since many people were encouraged to see the agent's previous films. Brosnan was a great match for the role and his performance is considered one of the best ever.

Brosnan's character is quite realistic. His gadgets and the tools his enemies use are futuristic, but they do not come close to science fiction as it did in the days of Connery and Moore. In 1999, the actor had already expressed his intentions not to continue with the role. However, after Russell Crowe's refusal - that he was doing Gladiator—, Brosnan made one more film that was released in 2002. Interestingly, it was the film that raised the most money of the four and the best valued by the public. After Die Another Day, which featured the Madonna song and Halle Berry as a rather atypical Bond girl, Daniel Craig would replace Brosnan as 007.

Movies starred by Pierce Brosnan

• GoldenEye
• The tomorrow Never Die
• The world is never enough
• Die another day

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Daniel Craig (2006-2020)

The last Bond did not have an easy time assuming the role. Daniel Craig it supposed certain changes with respect to the physical image that the secret agent had. To begin with, he was a blond guy with blue eyes, he wasn't the tallest of all of them and, besides, he was noticeably more muscular than the rest.

It took getting used to Daniel Craig. When in 2006 people went to see Casino Royale, everyone had in mind the interpretation of Pierce Brosnan. Although the actor was Scottish, Brosnan's Bond was very British: a Bond who killed with a silencer and very correct in his work. Craig was none of that. The 007 of this new actor is presented beating an enemy to death against a sink. The producers took advantage of the reboot to give a different touch to the character. And of course, people had a hard time getting used to it.

Also, Craig's Bond has quite different attributes. The actor is significantly more muscular than all of his predecessors. Also, he is blond with blue eyes. And, outside of his physical attributes, plays a much more rebellious, disobedient and independent character. Despite all these odds against him, Craig knew how to take James Bond to his land. He fought to give his own value to 007. So much so that right now he is considered the best Bond for all those who have not seen any Sean Connery movie and the second for those who have.

What is clear is that he has played the secret agent for fourteen years. While its premiere in Casino Royale was quite acclaimed and Quantum of Solace was criticized a lot —not because of her performance, but rather because of the film's plot that was affected by the writers' strike—, everything changed from Skyfall, which is considered one of the best James Bond movies ever. Craig left his license after No Time to Die and now, there is a huge debate about who should be the actor to return to shape 007.

His successor is still not something that is clear. Craig was not in the pools when he sought a replacement for Brosnan, so he could happen anything. Actors like Luke Evans, Jonathan Bailey or Tom Hardy are rumored. But a change in the character's race has also been raised with an actor like Idris Elba. As always, this has generated quite a bit of debate. However, at the narrative level it would be extremely easy to justify according to many fans of the saga: it would simply be necessary to explain that every agent who is named 007 receives the secret name of "James Bond".

Movies starred by Daniel Craig

• Casino Royale
• Quantum of Solace
• Skyfall
• Specter: 007
• No time to die

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Who will be the next Bond?

As we said in the previous paragraph, the next actor who will play James Bond is still a real unknown. there has been a lot controversy around this issue, as it has been rumored that the character could undergo certain quite spontaneous changes. In the first place, it was discussed that the character could be played for the first time by a black actor —something already common that has happened with another mythical British franchise such as Doctor Who—. There were also some ideas that the character could also be played by a woman, although no one is clear how they would justify such a change.

In any case, the production company in charge of the films of the Mi6 agent has published the requirements that they think should have the ideal candidate to be part of this fruitful saga. For them, a Bond, James Bond, must be at least 1,77 meters tall and be around 40 years of age. The actor would have to sign a contract that would commit him to record as minimum three films. These productions would be made in a maximum time of a decade. With this on the table, we can pretty much get an idea of ​​which actors could play the character. Idris Elba he would be left out, since his age is far beyond this limit, even though he is a black actor. Tom Hardy -under these lines- borders on the ideal height and is also the right age.

Hardy is a fan-favorite candidate, he has a rogue air and charisma that would add an interesting twist to the character. He also has enough experience in action movies, so he would have no problem fitting into that rhythm. The actor himself has joked on occasion with that possibility, dropping that he wouldn't mind becoming Daniel Craig's successor. Even Pierce Brosnan confessed in an interview a few years ago that he loved Hardy for the role.

However, and to the annoyance of Elba and Hardy, Henry Cavill it fits even better in all the directives imposed by the director. The latter has recently been put in the role of neither more nor less than Sherlock Holmes in the films of Enola Holmes from Netflix, so that getting into the skin of a mythical English character already has it dominated. It is true that he is immersed in the series The Witcher (also from Netflix), for which several seasons are still expected, but it shouldn't be a problem for the British actor to find time in his schedule.

And to you, who do you think would pick up Daniel Craig's baton better? Do you have your own candidate to be the next great 007 agent?

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