What it Takes
to Be James Bond

As movie fans and industry insiders alike speculate about who's going to be the next James Bond, I'm here reminiscing about the times I met him. I actually met him four times, and so I think I have a good idea of the qualities needed to be an effective 007.

I've been lucky enough to meet and get autographs from four amazing actors who portrayed the world-famous British spy. The first one was Daniel Craig, the Bond I grew up with, whom I met at the premiere of Spectre in London in 2015. After meeting him in person and asking him to sign a cool James Bond poster I bought from a memorabilia shop in the city, I realized that he had a lot of strength.

Daniel Craig evoked strength just from standing in front of me. He was jacked for the role, but even the way he stood and posed for the cameras emitted a quiet strength that only his Bond is known for. He was never that flashy as 007 anyway, but even then, his inner strength gave his Bond a unique but convincing spin.

On the other end of the spectrum, there's charm. I wouldn't say Craig's Bond wasn't charming, but it's definitely on the lower end of the list. For me, the most charming James Bond was Pierce Brosnan, and I confirmed this when I met him in real life in 2018.

I encountered the Die Another Day star at the premiere of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again in 2018, also in London. While other fans screamed for Meryl Streep, Cher, and Colin Firth, I was there solely for Brosnan. I wanted him to sign the same poster Craig did, and when I met him, I finally understood why he's one of the most beloved Bonds.

Brosnan oozes charm, almost like he can't help it. Even much older, I could still see him getting right back into it in 2018. It would be interesting to see a James Bond that much older, wouldn't it? I can't say that his Bond films were my favorite, but I definitely agree that he's one of the best.

A couple of years later, I had the privilege of meeting George Lazenby at a private event in London. It was a fan-made James Bond event, and the legendary actor was kind enough to show up and talk about his experience making On Her Majesty's Secret Service in 1969.

What I got from that night was that Lazenby gave the character real depth. He was the first to take on the role after Sean Connery originated it, so to distance himself from that iconic performance, he made his Bond more emotional and faithful to Ian Fleming's books.

He didn't just study the script; he went back to the source material, too. His movie isn't exactly my favorite, but I have a newfound appreciation for it after meeting him, listening to him, and asking him to sign my poster.

After the pandemic, I had to move back to Los Angeles. Since I still had my signed James Bond poster with me, I decided I'd get one last autograph on it: Timothy Dalton's. The British actor was cast in the new Harrison Ford series, 1923, so I figured I'd attend its premiere to see him in person.

When I finally did, Dalton's elegance jumped out at me. I always thought that he was the most sophisticated James Bond, and I confirmed it when I saw him in real life. Maybe it's his British accent. Or maybe it's his old-school British upbringing. Whatever gave him his elegance, he never lost it from his Bond days.

So to be a successful James Bond, you need strength, charm, depth, and elegance. Before you think of an actor who could play 007 next, check whether they have all these qualities.