Dame Judi Dench has an idea for who should be the next James Bond, but it’s no one famous.
“A young actor we’ve not yet heard of,” the actress, 91, told British Vogue in a recent interview, when asked for her pick.
There’s already plenty of competition: Several hot young actors have auditioned for the iconic role.
Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult have reportedly screen-tested for the part of the suave British spy, who imbibes martinis shaken, not stirred.
Other names mentioned include Josh O’Connor, Callum Turner, Jack Lowden, Harry Styles and Theo James.
The new movie, developed by Amazon MGM Studios, is slated for release in 2028. Denis Villeneuve is set to direct the upcoming film.
The previous James Bond, played by Daniel Craig, 58, retired from the role after starring in “No Time to Die” in 2021. He starred in five of the James Bond movies, including the 2012 hit, “Skyfall.” Previous Bonds include Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan.
Dench played M in eight Bond movies over 20 years.
“I loved playing M because it was great to be able to tell all those men where to get off; put them in their place,” she revealed in a Times interview. “You’re a sexist, misogynist dinosaur,” she says to Pierce Brosnan at their first meeting.
“I was drunk with power. I also got to wear some very nice suits and pretend I knew what I was talking about and to muck about with gadgets when, in real life, I can’t even work the ironing board.”
Dench added that she wasn’t sad to hear she would be replaced in the franchise.
“Of course I didn’t cry,” she explained. “Why on earth would I cry after 20 glorious years and eight Bond films? Which, by the way, is one more than Roger Moore, the longest-running 007 to date.”
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