Who was the best James Bond never to get the gig?

[Fuzzyduck]

Yeah, well I know he got typecast in the comedy action type films and wasn't really taken seriously for a decade or so until his return in Boogie Nights. But I think you underestimate him, he would've been well capable of pulling off the menace required for the role.

Yes Boogie Nights certainly restored some of the acting credibility he lost in the late 70s/80s but I'm not convinced. I expect I've been too brainwashed with seeing him as Bo, JJ or Paul Crewe (for the record I really like those films, as well as Hooper).

[willie loman]

Lord Lucan was screentested for the part,

[LLPunting]

Edward Fox would've been a better Bond than Moore & Dalton for sure.

None of the under 40 Brit actors in Hollywood have the chops or charisma for the role.  Generally avoid the codswallop that is Brit TV drama so not seen much evidence of worthy presence and acting from our small screen actors but Richard Madden is missing something, he was ok in The Bodyguard but the story was shite.  If the tabloid press are anything to go by then none of the male celebrities who might get the women into the cinemas strike me as macho enough nor complex enough of character.

[scutty brown]

Richard Armitage

[sadolddeejay]

Rupert Everett once said he thought he should be James Bond.

[LLPunting]

Richard Armitage

Did you see him in Strike Back?

Think he's a bit past it now.

[jimmymac]

Stanley Baker would have been a perfect fit.

Yes, I agree. I have watched a lot of films that Baker was in and he always gave an excellent performance. He would have been excellent as Bond but was maybe a bit to similar to Connery.

[David1970]

Yes, I agree. I have watched a lot of films that Baker was in and he always gave an excellent performance. He would have been excellent as Bond but was maybe a bit to similar to Connery.

I think he would have been harder even more brutal as Bond than Connery.
Baker was a great actor, in some great films

[jimmymac]

I think he would have been harder even more brutal as Bond than Connery.

That's probably true, but would they have taken the series down that road? We can see Daniel Craig as a more brutal Bond nowadays but would they have gone for it back then?

[Chorley]

That's probably true, but would they have taken the series down that road? We can see Daniel Craig as a more brutal Bond nowadays but would they have gone for it back then?

Probably not, in the same way Timothy Dalton's cold and ruthless portrayal didn't go down well at the time.

[mr.bluesky]

Get the fuck outta here!

Eddie Murphy turned it down so he could do the voice of donkey in Shrek.

[Ali Katt]

Richard Burton. He did the Spy Who Came In From the Cold, but it is a much more serious film.

[Chorley]

Richard Burton. He did the Spy Who Came In From the Cold, but it is a much more serious film.

Burton was an incredible actor, but I just couldn't see him as Bond. 

[Ali Katt]

Rupert Everett once said he thought he should be James Bond.

He's too camp, you might as well have had Kenny Everett.

[Ali Katt]

Burton was an inredible actor, but I just couldn't see him as Bond. 

There's three actors that have that genuinely dangerous, but charming persona: one was Bond, Sean Connery, the other two are Burton and Oliver Reed.

[Chorley]

One that I've often thought about was Edward Woodward, who when younger did play a cold, cynical spy/government hit man in Callan and later when he was much older in The Equaliser.

[Ali Katt]

That's probably true, but would they have taken the series down that road? We can see Daniel Craig as a more brutal Bond nowadays but would they have gone for it back then?

I liked him in Layer Cake, and I agree they are more action films with some violence that you wouldn't have got in the older Bonds like the electroshock torture sequence. That said Sean Connery or Roger Moore, even Timothy Dalton wouldn't be bossed about by Judi Dench; they would have shagged her instead.

[Chorley]

There's three actors that have that genuinely dangerous, but charming persona: one was Bond, Sean Connery, the other two are Burton and Oliver Reed.

Actually, I'd just remembered he played a really nasty bastard in Villain and was certainly convincing in that respect. 

[Chorley]

I liked him in Layer Cake, and I agree they are more action films with some violence that you wouldn't have got in the older Bonds like the electroshock torture sequence. That said Sean Connery or Roger Moore, even Timothy Dalton wouldn't be bossed about by Judi Dench; they would have shagged her instead.

His performance in Layer Cake was reputably what got him the Bond gig. 

[Davey Dykes]

Yes Boogie Nights certainly restored some of the acting credibility he lost in the late 70s/80s but I'm not convinced. I expect I've been too brainwashed with seeing him as Bo, JJ or Paul Crewe (for the record I really like those films, as well as Hooper).

Have you ever seen Gator? If not I recommend you give it a watch, caught it very late one night years ago.

[Matrix]

Have you ever seen Gator? If not I recommend you give it a watch, caught it very late one night years ago.

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funky tune.   

[David1970]

I liked him in Layer Cake, and I agree they are more action films with some violence that you wouldn't have got in the older Bonds like the electroshock torture sequence. That said Sean Connery or Roger Moore, even Timothy Dalton wouldn't be bossed about by Judi Dench; they would have shagged her instead.

Layer Cake great movie, Craig was first class, but had one hell of a supporting cast.

[David1970]

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George Harris great actor.

[Ali Katt]

Actually, I'd just remembered he played a really nasty bastard in Villain and was certainly convincing in that respect. 

I've got this film. I haven't seen it yet.

[timsussex]

Richard Burton. He did the Spy Who Came In From the Cold, but it is a much more serious film.

well that would have upped the vodka content and he might have wanted a part for Liz - depending on whether they were on or off at the time

[mr.bluesky]

There's three actors that have that genuinely dangerous, but charming persona: one was Bond, Sean Connery, the other two are Burton and Oliver Reed.

I don't think Oliver Reed would have stayed sober long enough to play the part. He probably would of insisted on real vodka martini's (shaken not stirred) on set. He would be well pissed before the end of the film. A pity as he was such a good actor.

[sparkus]

I don't think Oliver Reed would have stayed sober long enough to play the part. He probably would of insisted on real vodka martini's (shaken not stirred) on set. He would be well pissed before the end of the film. A pity as he was such a good actor.

Reed's always been on the chunky careworn side, even in his early films  Not really what you'd call debonnaire or assassin material.

That said, the Bond girls would get (to quote him in Castaway) a "good seeing to".

"Ah, Mr Bond, we've been expecting you."
"Fuck off, you cunt."

Actually I'd prefer this to any of the actual Bond films.

[Animalbeast]

Samual L Jackson

[Steely Dan]

Michael Caine

[Ali Katt]

Michael Caine

I was thinking of him for the role, but unfortunately his voice doesn't exude sophisticated gentleman vibes.

[sparkus]

Michael Caine

Wasn't The Icpress File intended as a grittier and more realistic alternative to the Bond films of the era?

[stampjones]

Sean Bean.

The names Bond. James Bastard Bond. Get the kettle on petal.

You know when you’re having a quiet drink and secretly catching up on ukp and some bastard writes something so brilliant you spray out half your drink laughing?
Thats you that is 

[mr.bluesky]

Sean Bean.

The names Bond. James Bastard Bond. Get the kettle on petal.

He's now adverting Yorkshire tea on tv now   

[Ali Katt]

Wasn't The Icpress File intended as a grittier and more realistic alternative to the Bond films of the era?

As a film trilogy it went insane when Ken Russell directed the third one.

[David1970]

Douglas Reynholm (AKA Matt Berry) would be a perfect Bond, a sexist womaniser perfect.

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[Chorley]

He's now adverting Yorkshire tea on tv now   

For Yorkshire! Ye bastard!

[sadolddeejay]

I think James Purefoy would have made a good Bond. He was screen tested for Goldeneye but lost out to Pierce Brosnan.

Pardon me if I am repeating what someone else has said.

[sparkus]

Douglas Reynholm (AKA Matt Berry) would be a perfect Bond, a sexist womaniser perfect.

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A bit chunky for the action roles?

[Jonestown]

Stanley Baker would have been a perfect fit.

Yes indeed, but if we are sticking to ones who have died then Laurence Harvey might have been in with a shout, or live ones then a younger Rufus Sewell would have been great.

[Waterhouse]

I think James Purefoy would have made a good Bond. He was screen tested for Goldeneye but lost out to Pierce Brosnan.

Pardon me if I am repeating what someone else has said.

I agree wholeheartedly - would make a splendid 007.

I also think Luke Evans would be a decent candidate too.

[mr.bluesky]

Henry Caville?

I thought Henry Caville would make a good James Bond. I think he played a good spy part in one of the recent Mission impossible films but perhaps is too well known for playing the part of Superman in recent films.

[Chorley]

I thought Henry Caville would make a good James Bond. I think he played a good spy part in one of the recent Mission impossible films but perhaps is too well known for playing the part of Superman in recent films.

God no! He might look gtbe part physicky, but he's s an awful, wooden actor with zero charisma. 

[Waterhouse]

God no! He might look gtbe part physicky, but he's s an awful, wooden actor with zero charisma. 

100% agree.  I can’t think of a better way to phrase it - awful actor with no magnetism whatsoever.
 

[Gordon Bennett]

Russ Abbott. No contest. The name's Bond. Basildon Bond.



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[Clitheroelad]

I heard Collins was the favourite for the job, but turned up at the interview wearing a tracksuit and Roger Moore turned up looking suave in a suit. Don’t know if it was true.

I read that when Collins did a screen test, he was "too rough" in his fight scene. How things have changed !

[Chorley]

I read that when Collins did a screen test, he was "too rough" in his fight scene. How things have changed !

Apparently he turned up in a track suit, appeared quite surly and arrogant. Cubby Broccoli said he looked like a thug and wasn't impressed.
Times have changed indeed. 

[Clitheroelad]

Probably not, in the same way Timothy Dalton's cold and ruthless portrayal didn't go down well at the time.

I realy like Daltons portrayal of Bond. For me, Moore was by far the worse. Too soft looking and no edge. Too much comedy.

[Gordon Bennett]

I ought to do a sensible response..

I always thought the Ulster born actor Ray Stevenson would be good, very tall handsome fellah. I think he sort of combines Moore's suave with Brosnan's good looks and Craig's ruggedness. He's played The Punisher previously too!



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[Fuzzyduck]

I realy like Daltons portrayal of Bond. For me, Moore was by far the worse. Too soft looking and no edge. Too much comedy.

Dalton's not my favourite but it was a shame he didn't end up making a 3rd film. I hear you about Moore: Bond got a little silly on his watch and I think he was always too much Simon Templar to really carry the Bond role. Still, I think it's unfair to say he had no edge. It was just lost under all the clowning around. I thought the scene on the rooftop in The Spy Who Loved Me was as cold as anything Connery or Craig (or Dalton for that matter) did.

[Clitheroelad]

Is nobody going to suggest Tom Hardy?

No. Too well known and too one dimensional in my opinion.

Tom Ellis (Lucifer) would be my choice, although hes 41 now so maybe a bit old.