“Quantum of Solace” star Gemma Arterton has weighed in on the prospect of a female James Bond, suggesting that such a change might not align with the franchise’s tradition. “Isn’t a female James Bond like Mary Poppins being played by a man?” the actor told The Times. “They talk about it, but I think people would find it too outrageous. Sometimes you just have to respect the tradition.”
Arterton, who played Strawberry Fields in the 2008 Bond film alongside Daniel Craig, also expressed puzzlement at how the role has followed her career: “I don’t regret doing a Bond film, but I am perplexed why it has followed me around. I was only in the film for five minutes.”
The 38-year-old actor, who recently starred opposite Ian McKellen in “The Critic,” spoke candidly about the evolution of on-set practices, particularly regarding intimate scenes. She recalled an instance where “a sex scene was just thrown upon me. Like, ‘This is what’s going to happen,’ and I did it.” She noted that such situations wouldn’t occur today, thanks to intimacy coordinators.
Addressing current industry safeguards, Arterton highlighted the presence of support systems, including anonymous helplines on call sheets. “If there’s any bullying, there are outlets you can contact,” she said.
The actor also discussed filming “The Critic” while pregnant, noting the production’s supportive approach. “You can shoot around it, so there are a lot of shots of me holding things in front of me. You can see me growing as the film goes on,” she revealed.
On her “The Critic” co-star Ian Mckellen falling off stage while starring in “Player Kings” at London’s West End, Arterton said: “It was a big fall and obviously he’s an older gentleman. He’s taking time out to recover. He’s such a Peter Pan. He’s so young at heart. It was a bit of a wake-up call.”
Arterton, who lives in Sussex with her husband actor Rory Keenan and their son, has chosen to reduce her workload during her child’s early years. She’s also maintained distance from social media, having left Instagram years ago, stating that “actors need to keep a bit of mystique.”
She also shared her perspective on class representation in the arts, expressing regret at being advised to lose her Kent accent during drama school. “I’m a big advocate for getting more working-class people into the arts, because we have a lot to offer,” she said.
English (US) ·