Summary
James Bondhas been called out for sexism due to how it has portrayed the Bond girls. However, one actress bagged the role even after declining to undress during her audition.
James Bondnot only features a highly intelligent, cunning, and notorious womanizer lead, but it also highlights the titular character’s beautiful women. Bond girls are often portrayed as sexual objects rather than fully developed characters. They are often introduced with the sole purpose of seducing Bond, often wearing sexy outfits and with their scenes taken in slow and sensual shots. Even their names have associated sexual innuendos like Honor Blackman’s Pussy Galore inGoldfinger(1994), Lana Wood’s Plenty O’Toole inDiamonds Are Forever(1971), and Lois Chiles' Holly Goodhead inMoonraker(1979). One of the Bond girls revisited their audition process.
Rosamund Pike, one of the leads of Amazon Prime’s hitThe Wheel of Time, sat down for an interview with Harper’s Bazaar UK. The English actress shared that she had never been to the United States until she got a role inJames Bondand they did a press tour in America. She recounted the event, saying it was “mind-blowing, a magic-carpet ride.” She was only 21 when she auditioned to be the Bond girl and her confidence may have convinced the producers she was perfect for the role because she was bold enough to tell them “no” when she was asked to undress. Pike said:
In the Bond audition, I was asked to unzip and drop the dress I was wearing, to just stand there in underwear. And I thought, ‘Well, no, I’ll be doing that if I get the part. I won’t be doing that now.’
Looking back, Pike admitted that she could not explain what “possessed” her at the time to react that way when she was told to undress. However, she was convinced her fearless reaction helped her bag the role. Pike was 23 when the film was released. In the movie, she portrayed Miranda Frost, an M-16 agent and fencing champion, who later turned out to be a double agent. Unlike the first Bond girls, her character was well-developed and more complex. She appears to be Bond’s ally, only to betray him later.
Die Another Daystarred Pierce Brosnanand was Pike’s movie debut and she did well. Critics praised her performance for its intensity and poise. Due to her impressive portrayal of Frost, she landed a major role in the mystery thrillerGone Girl(2014) opposite Ben Affleck, which earned her critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination. Pike’s role in the film is the best example of how theJames Bondfranchise evolved when it comes to portraying women. They used to present the Bond girls as damsels in distress, but Pike’s character was very different. In fact, Frost is among the Bond girls who turn into villains.
Although there was an obvious change in how theBondfranchise portrays women on the big screen, some still didn’t think it was enough. Oscar winnerHelen Mirrenpreviously said she hadn’t been a fan ofBondbecause she disapproved of how women were written for the film. TheRedstar argued that women have played a significant role in the Secret Service, even during the French Resistance.James Bondwas from Ian Fleming’s novel series. In contrast to the movies, the author actually penned the Bond girls as strong women and someone who saved Bond. Fleming penned those characters in an era when women were expected to belong in the kitchen. So, the author wasn’t sexist at all.
