Joanna Lumley: Idris Elba can’t be Bond – he doesn’t match the description

Lumley said Elba doesn’t match the description of Bond from the original books by Ian Fleming
Not right: Joanna Lumley has weighed into the Bond debate
Dave Benett
Emma Powell9 May 2017
The Weekender

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Joanna Lumley has said Idris Elba could never play James Bond because he doesn’t quite fit the bill.

Lumley, 71, weighed in on the debate over who should succeed Daniel Craig as the 007 agent, saying Elba, 44, doesn’t match the description of the character from the original books by Ian Fleming.

She told Radio Times: “Idris Elba is stunning, but I don't think he is right for Bond, who is quite clearly described in the book.

“I'm colour-blind when it comes to acting, but Idris Elba is just a zonking great star anyway.”

Rumoured: Idris Elba was reportedly in the running to play Bond
Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

Elba’s name was thrown into the ring as a possible replacement for Craig after the actor joked that he would rather ‘slash his wrists’ than play the secret service spy again.

But he is reportedly back on board with the franchise after working with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli on the hit off-Broadway production of Othello.

Daniel Craig - In pictures

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“Daniel was very pleased with how Othello went and the great reviews,” a source told Page Six. “Now Daniel’s talks with Barbara are going in the right direction.

“They have a script – screenwriting duo Neal Purvis and Robert are writing and they’ll go into production as soon as Daniel is ready to commit.”

James Norton, Jamie Bell and Aidan Turner were also among the rumoured names reportedly in the running to play Bond.

“I’d quite like to play James Bond,” she told the Daily Mirror. “Not Jane Bond, James. If I can be called Bill, I can be called James can’t I?”

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