Former Bond girl says next 007 should be 'another gorgeous man' as James Bond decision
Amazon MGM Studios Begins Search for Next James Bond; Former Bond Girl Alison Papworth Shares Her Hopes
Amazon MGM Studios has officially started the search for the actor who will replace Daniel Craig as the iconic British secret agent, sparking speculation across Hollywood and the franchise’s devoted fan base. In a recent interview, former Bond girl Alison Papworth—best known for her roles in the 1981 film For Your Eyes Only and the 1983 film Octopussy—expressed a clear preference that the next 007 be a man, citing the literary roots of the series.
“Leave one thing untouched,” Papworth told Fox News Digital. “If they’re true to the books, I hope it’s a man. A man, just a man. Yes, I think it would be very strange if it were a woman. Don’t you? It would be a totally different thing.”
Papworth’s comments arrive just days after Amazon’s announcement, in May, that the studio had gained creative control of the Bond franchise in 2025 through a joint venture with producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. The deal, which will see the upcoming film—set to be the 26th in the long‑running series—directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Steven Knight, continue the legacy that began with Dr. No in 1962.
Hollywood Rumors and Industry Voices
The search has already attracted attention from actors and industry insiders. Gary Oldman, who has worked with several rumored contenders, told the Canadian talk show The Morning Show that his Slow Horses co‑star Jack Lowden could be the next Bond. Oldman added, “I do not know who has got the part, but I’m hoping it’s Jack.” The actor’s name is one of several that Deadline reports as being on a six‑person shortlist, alongside Paul Mescal, Jacob Elordi and Jack O’Connell, among others.
Oldman later clarified his comments on The Morning Show, acknowledging the speculative nature of the rumors. “There’s six people on a shortlist. I heard a rumor that they’ve picked James Bond, but they haven’t announced it yet, which is their prerogative,” he said. “I’m hoping it’s Jack.”
A Legacy Remembered
Papworth’s own experience in the Bond universe dates back to her first appearance in For Your Eyes Only, where she shared scenes with Roger Moore. “He was an absolute gentleman,” she recalled. “Yes, I know everybody says it. I only have fabulous memories of him being funny, telling the best jokes. Very dry, very droll.” She fondly remembers a stuntman smuggling beef drippings to Moore while they were filming in India, a small anecdote that left a lasting impression.
Her second Bond outing, Octopussy, brought her into a harsher environment. Filmed at Pinewood Studios during a winter shoot that was meant to stand in for India, Papworth described the cold and the red bodysuits the cast wore: “It was the middle of winter doing the scenes for ‘Octopussy’ where we were fighting in the castle. We learned to stunt fight, and it was supposed to be in India. But we were at Pinewood Studios, and it was below freezing. All the girls had these red bodysuits on with big capes. We were so cold, we had thermals on underneath, so we probably looked about five pounds heavier.”
Despite initial skepticism from a publicity director who warned that “once you’ve done a Bond movie, you get thrown on the Bond girl scrap heap,” Papworth’s career did not end with the films. She went on to work as an interior designer and later as a director at Camhall Design & Consultancy, a London‑based firm that has completed projects in New York, Boston, and the Bahamas. She also helped launch Lustre & Lustre London, a luxury cleaning service, and has been involved in charitable work with Shooting Star Children’s Hospices in south‑west London.
“Bond has stayed with me,” Papworth said. “It’s changed my life. My two best friends, I met one on ‘For Your Eyes Only,’ and I met my other best friend on ‘Octopussy.’ They’re still with me.” She added, “I still do signings,” referring to fan events that have kept her connected to the franchise’s loyal following.
Looking Ahead
The next Bond film, slated to be released in the coming years, will be the 26th entry in a franchise that has spanned over six decades and more than 60 titles. While the studio’s search is still underway and a decision has not yet been made, industry chatter suggests that the final choice will be announced soon.
For fans, the question remains whether the tradition of a male protagonist will continue or whether the series will take a different direction. Papworth’s preference for a male 007 reflects the legacy of the original novels, but the franchise has evolved over time, and the eventual casting decision will be the subject of intense scrutiny.
As the search unfolds, Amazon MGM Studios, with its new partnership with Wilson and Broccoli, Villeneuve’s directorial debut, and Knight’s screenwriting, has set the stage for a fresh chapter in the world of James Bond. The world waits, as Papworth quipped, “with bated breath.”