Former Bond girl Maryam d’Abo has caused controversy as she said the next 007 should be a white man. The coveted role is currently vacant following the departure of Daniel Craig in 2021. The 65-year-old, who starred opposite Timothy Dalton, now 79, as James Bond in The Living Daylights in 1987, was asked if she thought a black actor could be cast in the iconic role. Making her feelings known 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.”

Explaining her reasoning she said she felt the original Ian Fleming books should be accurately represented on screen. “Personally, I would respect Ian Fleming’s books and keep James Bond being English and working for His Majesty’s Secret Service,” she said. However, she confessed she wouldn’t be opposed to “that wonderful Australian guy, Jacob Elordi” being handed the famous licence to kill. “He is Australian, but so what?” she said. Should Elordi be cast he would be the second Aussie Bond. Fellow Antipodean George Lazenby played the role in one film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service in 1969.

While not called James Bond the agent with the codename 007 was briefly played by a black woman in 2021’s No Time To Die. Lashana Lynch played a character called Nomi who had been awarded the codename before Daniel Craig‘s supposedly retired James Bond returned to the fold in MI6.

Despite Maryam’s remarks only two English actors, Roger Moore and the aforementioned Daniel Craig, have played the role since the character hit screens in 1962. Roger Moore played the suave superspy for 12 years from 1973 to 1985. Meanwhile the most recent Bond Daniel Craig played the part from 2006’s Casino Royale until his final outing in 2021. He is the longest-serving actor in the role, surpassing Roger’s 12-year tenure.

The role was originated on screen by Scottish actor Sean Connery who starred in seven films in total – six official productions and unofficial Never Say Never Again.

He was also played by Australian George Lazenby for one film, Welshman Timothy Dalton for two movies and Irishman Pierce Brosnan who appeared in four of the flicks.

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Maryam’s remarks opened up a huge debate online as people took to social media to air their opinions. Taking to X one person wrote: “This says it all why these white folks have meltdowns when the lil mermaid change image from white to black. Bc they think the little mermaid is real. They think that James Bond is real. Their culture think that fiction is real.”

Another commented: “No. Given the longevity of the franchise, I don’t think we can assume the James Bond character is a single individual. It would make more sense if it was an identity adopted on becoming 007. In that case, there’s no reason he would have to be white.”

A third chimed in: “Imagine being sooo racist that you simply can not create a black hero, you must black wash white heros. Every black should be offended that the entertainment industry refuses to invest in original black characters and content.”

A fourth agreed with Maryam penning: “Yes. You couldn’t do the reverse, put a white man in to act the role of a known black character, so be consistent. Just write a new role in a new story. Be original. God knows there’s plenty of storytellers out there with new ideas.” A fifth shared: “It would be cultural appropriation if it wasn’t.” Meanwhile a sixth fumed: “Definitely needs a white actor, call me racist, I don’t care anymore.”