By now, most of us are aware that Daniel Craig isn’t one to mince his words, and his recent comments in response to a question about fellow actress and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge are no exception.
During a recent interview with The Sunday Times, reporter Jonathan Dean brought up that fact throughout the entire history of the James Bond franchise, only one woman had received a writing credit. That was, of course, until Fleabag actress and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge was signed on to “liven up” the Bond script earlier this year.
“A cynic might suggest the new recruit has been chosen to help the film look more representative,” Dean suggested, which quite clearly didn’t go down well with Craig.
“Look, we’re having a conversation about Phoebe’s gender here, which is f*cking ridiculous,” Craig said. “She’s a great writer. Why shouldn’t we get Phoebe onto Bond? That’s the answer to that.”
“I know where you’re going, but I don’t actually want to have that conversation,” Craig continued. “I know what you’re trying to do, but it’s wrong. It’s absolutely wrong. She’s a f*cking great writer. One of the best English writers around. I said, ‘Can we get her on the film?’ That’s where I came from.”
Later, Craig said Phoebe Waller-Bridge is “just brilliant…I had my eye on her ever since the first Fleabag, and then I saw Killing Eve and what she did with that and just wanted her voice. It is so unique – we are very privileged to have her on board.”
Speaking to Deadline earlier this year, Phoebe Waller-Bridge said “there’s been a lot of talk about whether or not [Bond] is relevant now because of who he is and the way he treats women. I think that’s bollocks.”
“I think he is absolutely relevant now. It has just got to grow. It has just got to evolve, and the important thing is that the film treats the women properly. He doesn’t have to. He needs to be true to this character,” she said.
Waller-Bridge isn’t the only strong female breathing new life into the Bond franchise. Earlier this year it was also announced that actress Lashana Lynch is set to become the new 007, with many speculating she will eventually take over Daniel Craig’s role.
It sounds like we can expect a whole new ballgame when Bond 25 hits cinemas in April 2020.