{"id":894102,"date":"2026-10-25T12:16:20","date_gmt":"2026-10-25T12:16:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/894102\/"},"modified":"2026-10-25T12:16:20","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T12:16:20","slug":"11-actors-who-auditioned-for-james-bond-but-didnt-get-the-part","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/894102\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Actors Who Auditioned for James Bond, but Didn\u2019t Get the Part"},"content":{"rendered":"

James Bond has been played by seven actors<\/a> over the past 64 years \u2014 and in that time, many more stars have auditioned to play the iconic part.<\/p>\n

The hunt for the next 007<\/a> is in full swing, as several actors \u2014 including Callum Turner<\/a> and Jack Lowden<\/a> \u2014 are set to screen test<\/a> for the iconic part in October, per The Hollywood Reporter<\/a>. In the end, one will emerge as the newest British spy with a license to kill, joining the ranks of Sean Connery<\/a>, David Niven, George Lazenby<\/a>, Roger Moore<\/a>, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan<\/a> and Daniel Craig<\/a>.<\/p>\n

From Connery\u2019s Dr. No (1962) to Craig\u2019s No Time to Die (2021), a total of 27 James Bond films<\/a> have been released so far. Some stars who auditioned for these Bond films as the MI6 agent eventually landed different roles in the Bond universe, while others have auditioned once or multiple times, to no avail.<\/p>\n

Here are 11 actors who auditioned for James Bond<\/a> over the years but didn\u2019t secure the part.<\/p>\n

01 of 11<\/p>\n

Richard Todd\"Richard<\/a><\/p>\n

Richard ToddCredit: PA\/Getty<\/p>\n

Richard Todd was author Ian Fleming\u2019s preferred pick to become the first James Bond in Dr. No, according to the Daily Telegraph (via the Los Angeles Times<\/a>).<\/p>\n

However, the actor had a scheduling conflict, as he was slated to play the lead in the 1963 film Death Drums Along the River. The part ultimately went to Connery.<\/p>\n

02 of 11<\/p>\n

Michael Billington\"Michael<\/a><\/p>\n

Michael Billington in 1982Credit: Bob D’Amico\/ABC\/Getty<\/p>\n

Michael Billington auditioned for Bond and was shortlisted for the role on several occasions, including for On Her Majesty\u2019s Secret Service (1969), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), Live and Let Die (1973), Moonraker (1979) and Octopussy (1983), per Far Out Magazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Although the star was passed over every time, he played KGB agent Sergei Barsov in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977).<\/p>\n

03 of 11<\/p>\n

James Brolin\"James<\/a><\/p>\n

James BrolinCredit: Ralph Dominguez\/MediaPunch\/Getty<\/p>\n

American actor James Brolin<\/a> auditioned for 1983\u2019s Octopussy during Roger Moore<\/a>\u2019s run as Bond. He was then hired for the role after Moore \u201csaid he would never do another\u201d 007 film, Brolin told PEOPLE in July 2025.<\/p>\n

However, before any papers were signed, the star of 1979\u2019s The Amityville Horror said, \u201cI got a call saying Roger decided to do one more<\/a>, and I was out.\u201d<\/p>\n

04 of 11<\/p>\n

Sam Neill\"Sam<\/a><\/p>\n

Sam Neill in 1986Credit: Getty<\/p>\n

After Moore actually hung up his suit, Sam Neill was considered for the role<\/a> in in 1987\u2019s The Living Daylights. Neill was not offered the role \u2014 and he was relieved by that outcome.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really did not want that part and my friend Pierce Brosnan wanted it so much,\u201d he told Today Australia<\/a> in July 2023.<\/p>\n

He continued, \u201cSo you know, it was really contrary and I felt so awkward all that day that we made that thing. It went on and on and on, but I\u2019m so relieved they offered it to someone else. And welcome to it! Because you really don\u2019t want to be the Bond that no one likes.\u201d<\/p>\n

05 of 11<\/p>\n

Sean Bean\"Sean<\/a><\/p>\n

Sean Bean in 2001Credit: Evan Agostini\/ImageDirect\/Getty<\/p>\n

Sean Bean<\/a> said there was \u201ctalk\u201d of him becoming the next Bond when he was in his early 30s. However, the actor figured he was \u201ctoo young,\u201d he told Variety<\/a> in October 2025.<\/p>\n

Luckily, a few years later, he was asked to play 006 in 1995\u2019s GoldenEye, calling the part \u201cthe next best thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

06 of 11<\/p>\n

Dominic West\"Dominic<\/a><\/p>\n

Dominic WestCredit: Kevin Mazur\/WireImage<\/p>\n

When The Wire<\/a> star Dominic West<\/a> auditioned for Casino Royale in 2005, he showed up wearing a T-shirt and old jeans. The move was good for him in the eyes of director Martin Campbell, as West told Esquire<\/a> UK<\/a> in December 2018 that other actors had turned up wearing tuxes.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the time, I really wanted to get it,\u201d he told the outlet. \u201cI love Bond, and I was the right age for it. They asked me, \u2018What do you think should happen with Bond?\u2019 And I said something deeply uninspired like, \u2018I think he should go back to being more like Sean Connery.\u2019 I thought then that it was the best job you can do.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

He added that he was \u201cdelighted now\u201d that he didn\u2019t get the part, partially because landing the role would\u2019ve meant \u201ca year-and-a-half of hell doing publicity.\u201d<\/p>\n

07 of 11<\/p>\n

Henry Cavill\"Henry<\/a><\/p>\n

Henry Cavill in 2008Credit: Michael Loccisano\/FilmMagic<\/p>\n

Henry Cavill<\/a> is among the many actors who unsuccessfully screen tested for 007 in Casino Royale. He recalled bombing the scene in a November 2019 interview with Men\u2019s Health<\/a>, saying he \u201cprobably could have prepared better<\/a>.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The audition involved reenacting a scene of Connery as Bond exiting a bathroom in nothing but a towel.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember the director, Martin Campbell, saying, \u2018Looking a little chubby there, Henry,\u2019\u201d Cavill told the outlet. \u201cI didn\u2019t know how to train or diet. And I\u2019m glad Martin said something, because I respond well to truth. It helps me get better.\u201d<\/p>\n

08 of 11<\/p>\n

Antony Starr\"Antony<\/a><\/p>\n

Antony Starr in 2007Credit: WireImage<\/p>\n

New Zealand actor Antony Starr<\/a> was in the running for Bond when he auditioned for Casino Royale. He later called his performance<\/a> \u201cstone-faced.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy metaphor for that was throwing a baitless hook into a very large pond knowing you\u2019re not going to catch the fish,\u201d Starr recalled on the Happy Sad Confused <\/a>podcast in March 2025. \u201cIt is one of the worst readings of \u2018Bond, James Bond,\u2019 you\u2019ll ever see.\u201d<\/p>\n

09 of 11<\/p>\n

Rupert Friend\"Rupert<\/a><\/p>\n

Rupert Friend in 2006Credit: Patrick McMullan\/Getty<\/p>\n

Before Rupert Friend<\/a> landed roles in Pride & Prejudice<\/a> and Homeland<\/a>, the actor auditioned to play Bond in Casino Royale.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Friend was eventually approached about doing a Bond series about the character straight out of college, but he ultimately declined the opportunity because he felt he was too young to take on the weight of the iconic role, the actor told Variety<\/a> in May 2023.<\/p>\n

10 of 11<\/p>\n

Sam Worthington\"Sam<\/a><\/p>\n

Sam Worthington in 2009Credit: Barry King\/FilmMagic<\/p>\n

Australian actor Sam Worthington<\/a> was a finalist for Bond in Casino Royale, but he told Variety<\/a> in December 2022 that he couldn\u2019t nail down Bond\u2019s charisma during the audition.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could play Bond as a killer, but I couldn\u2019t get the debonair down for the life of me,\u201d Worthington told the outlet. \u201cThe suit did not fit.\u201d\u202f<\/p>\n

11 of 11<\/p>\n

Matthew Rhys\"Matthew<\/a><\/p>\n

Matthew Rhys in 2007Credit: Eric Charbonneau\/Wireimage<\/p>\n

During Matthew Rhys<\/a>\u2019 audition for Casino Royale, the Widow\u2019s Bay<\/a> star was asked what he\u2019d do differently as Bond and he was flustered by the question.<\/p>\n

He told The Times of London<\/a> in April 2023 that he chose to make a joke: \u201cI\u2019d give him a limp. I said, \u2018Limp?\u2019 Nothing. \u2018Eye patch?\u2019 Nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read the original article on People<\/a><\/p>\n