Halle Berry, a former Bond actress, believes 007 should not be portrayed by a woman.

Halle Berry Questions Female James Bond

Former “Die Another Day” star Halle Berry has weighed in on the debate about whether the iconic character of James Bond should be portrayed by a woman. While attending the Cannes Film Festival, the 58-year-old actress shared her thoughts on this ongoing discussion regarding the future of spy movies.

“I don’t know if 007 should really be a woman,” Berry commented. “It’s nice to say in 2025, ‘Oh, she should be a woman.’ But I’m not entirely sure that’s the right direction.” She previously played the character Jinx in the 2002 film “Die Another Day,” alongside Pierce Brosnan.

Mixed Opinions on Gender Swapping

Former Bond girl Eva Green has similarly suggested that the new 007 should remain male, reflecting concerns that swapping gender might dilute the legacy of such an entrenched character. Berry has expressed similar doubts in the past about turning Bond into a woman. “It’s a tough one, but I don’t know if Bond should be a woman. The series has a rich history,” she asserted. “We could create a new bond character who’s female, but should we really reimagine Bond as a woman?”

This gender-swapping conversation has been a hot topic in Hollywood for almost a decade. In 2019, Valerie Leon, who starred in “The Spy Who Loved Me,” also criticized the idea, arguing that Bond has always been a male fantasy and that it’s difficult to envision a female counterpart in that role.

In 2024, Gemma Arterton, known for her role in “Quantum of Solace,” added her voice to the discussion, suggesting respect for the character’s traditions and hinting at the absurdity injected into such discussions. “Is James Bond, a woman like Mary Poppins, really feasible?” she questioned, reflecting on the inherent challenges of gender rewriting for iconic characters.

Currently, Daniel Craig’s portrayal of James Bond ended with the 2021 film “No Time to Die.” Amazon MGM Studios has recently taken control of the franchise’s creative rights, but there has yet to be any information on the future direction of the series.