Daniel Craig says James Bond shouldn’t be played by a female actress

Daniel Craig has joked he is more naked than the women in James Bond No Time To Die. 

The actor, 53, said he is in the nude ‘most the way through’ his final stint as the 007 agent- and it took him a year to get in shape for the part. 

In an interview with Radio Times, Daniel discussed the film, set to be released on September 30, and why he thinks a female actress shouldn’t replace him as Bond. 

In the buff: Daniel Craig has joked he is more naked than the women in James Bond No Time To Die

Now in his fifties, Daniel talked about how what would have taken three months to train for his shirtless scenes when he took on Bond aged 38 in 2006 film Casino Royale, took him a year. 

‘Getting into shape for it was a lot harder than 15 years ago. Back then, I did it in three months, but this time, it took me about a year,’ he said. 

But Daniel was determined to maintain his chiselled physique for No Time To Die, and when asked if there will any racy scenes with his Bond girls, he quipped: ‘Oh, I’m naked most of the way through the movie. 

Progress: Amid calls for the next 007 to be played by a woman (Lashana Lynch pictured in No Time To Die), the actor stated that there should 'simply be better parts for women'

Progress: Amid calls for the next 007 to be played by a woman (Lashana Lynch pictured in No Time To Die), the actor stated that there should ‘simply be better parts for women’

Racy: The actor, 53, said he is in the nude 'most the way through' his final stint as the 007 agent, and it took him a year to get in shape for the part (pictured in Casino Royale in 2006)

Racy: The actor, 53, said he is in the nude ‘most the way through’ his final stint as the 007 agent, and it took him a year to get in shape for the part (pictured in Casino Royale in 2006)

Hot under the collar: 'He’s more naked than the women; I’ve designed it that way. I mean, look at Casino Royale', Daniel said (pictured with Lea Seydoux playing Dr. Madeleine Swann)

Hot under the collar: ‘He’s more naked than the women; I’ve designed it that way. I mean, look at Casino Royale’, Daniel said (pictured with Lea Seydoux playing Dr. Madeleine Swann)

‘He’s more naked than the women; I’ve designed it that way. I mean, look at Casino Royale.’ 

Elsewhere, Daniel  insisted that James Bond shouldn’t be played by a female actress because they deserve their own roles that haven’t been written for men.

Amid calls for the next 007 to be played by a woman, the actor, who is retiring from the role following the upcoming No Time To Die, stated that rather than cast them in male roles there should ‘simply be better parts for women.’

Daniel joins multiple stars who have spoken against Bond being played by a woman, including the franchise’s producer Barbara Broccoli.

The actor said: ‘There should simply be better parts for women and actors of colour. 

Regret: During the interview Daniel also apologised for saying that he would 'rather slash my wrists' than reprise his role as James Bond (pictured in character in 2015)

Regret: During the interview Daniel also apologised for saying that he would ‘rather slash my wrists’ than reprise his role as James Bond (pictured in character in 2015)

‘Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?’

He said the addition of Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge to the writing team was to ‘spice it up’ but she was a Bond fan so ‘she wasn’t about to take him in a different direction’. 

Multiple actresses have supported Daniel’s statement that Bond should be played by a male actor, including Die Another Day star Halle Berry, who said on Entertainment Tonight in 2017: ‘That series is steeped in history… you know, Ian Fleming’s stories. I don’t think you can change Bond to a woman.’ 

Producer Barbara also said on Good Morning Britain in 2019: ‘We have to make movies about women and women’s stories but we have to create female characters and not just for a gimmick turn a male character into a woman.’

No Time To Die will see the introduction of the first female 00 agent, played by Lashana Lynch, sparking calls for the next Bond to be played by a woman. 

Iconic: It remains unclear who will take over the role of Bond, with speculation an actress or person of colour may be chosen for the role (pictured in character in 2015)

Iconic: It remains unclear who will take over the role of Bond, with speculation an actress or person of colour may be chosen for the role (pictured in character in 2015)

During the interview Daniel also apologised for saying that he would ‘rather slash my wrists’ than reprise his role as James Bond, adding that the comment was originally made as a joke.

The talented actor made the comment in a 2015 interview with Time Out after finishing previous 007 movie Spectre, having broken his leg during filming. 

Daniel said: ‘I was thinking, ‘I don’t know if I can do another one of these.’ I finished filming Spectre with a broken leg.’

‘To your point about being in my 50s now, I thought, ‘Do I have this in me? Do I want to go through all of this?’ I needed a break.’ 

The name's Elba: Luther and The Wire star Idris Elba has long been a fan favorite to take over the 007 mantle from Craig (pictured in 2021)

The name’s Elba: Luther and The Wire star Idris Elba has long been a fan favorite to take over the 007 mantle from Craig (pictured in 2021)

Read the full interview in Radio Times, on sale now

Read the full interview in Radio Times, on sale now 

Betting is already underway on which actor will replace the longtime favourite.

Luther star Idris Elba has been a firm fan favorite, as well as sparking heated debate about whether there cold ever be a black James Bond.

Bookies also reported heavy betting on Wolf Hall and Homeland star Damian Lewis as the next 007. If chosen, he would be the first red-haired actor to play the spy role. 

Others considered possible replacements for Craig include Richard Madden, Tom Hiddleston, Henry Cavill, Michael Fassbender and Tom Hardy. 

Read the full interview in Radio Times, on sale now. 

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