A former Bond girl has declared that 007 must be a white man.
Maryam d’Abo, who starred in The Living Daylights in 1987, shared her views on casting Daniel Craig’s replacement.
When asked about the possibility of a black actor taking the role, she said: “Then don’t call it Bond. Call it something else. You can have a wonderful black hero, but then don’t call him James Bond.”
The 65-year-old actress believes the franchise should stay true to its literary origins.
“Personally, I would respect Ian Fleming’s books and keep James Bond being English and working for His Majesty’s Secret Service,” she explained.
D’Abo portrayed Kara Milovy, a cellist with connections to the KGB, in the 1987 film.
She starred alongside Timothy Dalton, now 79, who played the spy in that instalment.
The actress grew up in France and Switzerland before taking on the role.
Maryam d’Abo starred alongside Timothy Dalton in The Living Daylights in 1987
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In the film, Bond spares Milovy during an operation at a Bratislava concert hall, later returning to find her and posing as a KGB agent before seducing her.
And though she shut the door to a black actor, d’Abo remains open to a foreign Bond.
She expressed support for “that wonderful Australian guy, Jacob Elordi” potentially taking the role, adding: “He is Australian, but so what?”
Several black British actors have emerged as potential candidates for the iconic role.
Daniel Craig’s successor is still yet to be announced – but Maryam d’Abo ruled out a black Bond
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Maryam d’Abo said ‘wonderful Australian guy’ Jacob Elordi should be handed a Licence to Kill
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Aaron Pierre, 31, is considered a strong contender after voicing Mufasa in the recent Lion King film.
The London-born performer has Jamaican, Sierra Leonean and Curacaoan heritage.
Idris Elba was once the leading favourite to succeed Craig, but at 53, he may be too old for producers seeking a younger star.
Callum Turner and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, both 35, are among the current frontrunners.
Turner is said to have told his inner circle that he has secured the part.
His fiancee Dua Lipa, meanwhile, is said to be keen on recording the accompanying theme song.
Aaron Pierre, 31, is considered a strong contender after voicing Mufasa in the recent Lion King remake
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Callum Turner has reportedly been telling his close circle that he has secured the part
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No official meeting has yet been confirmed to cast the next Bond.
Denis Villeneuve will direct the upcoming film, while Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is writing the screenplay.
Producer Barbara Broccoli previously said Craig’s successor “will be a man, will likely be in his 30s” and that “whiteness is not a given”.
However, Broccoli and her half-brother Michael Wilson sold the franchise to Amazon last year in a deal reportedly worth north of £700million.
The sale saw them give up creative control – though they remain co-owners of the Bond property.
D’Abo is currently appearing in Spanish Oranges at The Playground Theatre in London.