The Bond Girl: Is It Time for a Female 007?

With No Time to Die out in cinemas and Daniel Craig announcing his retirement from the iconic 007 role, some audiences have been clamouring for the next Bond agent to be female. Is it time for a new breed of 'Bond Girl'?

James Bond, the man with the licence to kill, has looks to enchant any woman he encounters. The charming protagonist is often portrayed by arresting men with manners, impeccable poise, and exuding bravado; never quivering in fear at the presence of his foe. Many affable characters have taken the role of Bond, like Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan, and the famous Daniel Craig, who is currently the star of the latest movie, No Time to Die.

The women in the long-running James Bond franchise are written as a deserving match; brave, beautiful, and sultry. However, these qualities aren’t exactly used the way we expect them to be. More often than not, they're simply wielded to attract the ladies man (and male viewers), instead of being part of a more complex narrative and characterisation of the Bond girl.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Daniel Craig attends the World Premiere of "NO TIME TO DIE" at the Royal Albert Hall on September 28, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Universal Pictures)

Above LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Daniel Craig attends the World Premiere of "NO TIME TO DIE" at the Royal Albert Hall on September 28, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Universal Pictures)

And as portrayed in Bond films, not one woman has ever refused his advances, regardless if they’re queer or a femme fatale.

In the Bond franchise, certain women are merely used as eye candy and only granted these qualities to appear attractive to both Bond and the viewers. This is what Laura Mulvey pertains to in her essay, Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema. She says, “[The woman] displayed has functioned on two levels: as erotic object for the characters within the screen story, and as erotic object for the spectator within the auditorium”.

Honey Rider, the first Bond girl from Dr No (1962), made that iconic entrance at the beach in a white bikini and was depicted in angles that showed off her body. In Dr No and From Russia with Love (1963), Sylvia Trench, also often appeared in a bikini or with her legs up close.

Above Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, and John Kitzmiller in Dr. No, 1962 (Photo: IMDb)

Above Eunice Gayson in Dr. No, 1962 (Photo: IMDb)

By then, you'd think that the archetype is scratched off and the role is finally fleshed out in the years to come. However, you’d be surprised to know other details that are far more distasteful such as the case for several Bond girls who are only used for Bond’s advantage like Jill Masterson (in Goldfinger, 1964), who betrays Goldfinger for Bond and died naked while covered in gold paint, and Paula Caplan (in Thunderball, 1965), who dies after helping Bond.

But in Quantum of Solace (2008), M (played by the iconic Judi Dench), a strong female figure, finally criticises this for a brief moment. Strawberry Fields was tasked to put Bond back on the plane and finish his initial mission. But she fails and falls for the spy. Near the end of the movie, Fields is seen dead and covered in oil on the super spy’s white bed.

Above Photo: Quantum of Solace (2008)

The concept is an obvious ode to Jill Masterson. But the scene was not particularly memorable for that moment alone as it was M’s hard-hitting statement that left Bond and the viewers in silence. “Look how well your charm works, James. They’ll do anything for you, won’t they?” she said. “How many is that now?”

Left Goldfinger, 1964 (Photo: 007James),

Right Quantum of Solace, 2008 (Photo: Eon Productions)

Having a better portrayal of women in movies is long overdue. In an era of the Me Too movement and bigger awareness of gender discrimination, it's definitely high time for media giants to provide a fresh and more nuanced take on female representation instead of simply using them as narrative devices to entice male viewers.

Rumours about the versatile Charlize Theron being the next Bond have been floating around social media, but not everyone was thrilled—including Bond himself, Craig, who's departing from the role after No Time To Die. In an interview with Radio Times, Craig says, "There should simply be better parts for women and actors of colour. Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?"

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 06: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally retouched) Charlize Theron attends the premiere of 'Gringo' at the L.A. Live Regal Cinemas on March 6, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kurt Krieger/Corbis via Getty Images)

Above LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 06: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally retouched) Charlize Theron attends the premiere of 'Gringo' at the L.A. Live Regal Cinemas on March 6, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kurt Krieger/Corbis via Getty Images)

Although it would be historic for a woman to take the place of 007, it would be at least as groundbreaking to see a female spy franchise become an enduring global box office hit, especially with a 50-something woman in the lead role (Craig himself is still a sex object at 53). Whichever side of the coin you prefer, one thing's for sure: it's time we reinvent 'The Bond Girl'.

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The Bond Girl: Cinematic Eye-Candy or Empowered Woman?