A Female James Bond Character Was Pitched Before ‘Dr. No’

With time, the cinematic industry has been bestowed with many great fictional characters who have become fans’ favorites with their on-screen portrayals. Among them is British writer Ian Fleming’s creation, James Bond. Bond is a British Spy Agent who is also known by the spy code 007. The character has been brought to life by various actors depicting the action/thriller-packed stories of James Bond. While the fans have only noticed the spy character being portrayed by male actors, the world has yet to see a woman taking center stage in a Bond film. Interestingly, a female James Bond was even considered back in the 1950s.

In the upcoming biography of Ian Fleming, known for penning the James Bond books, novelist Nicholas Shakespeare reveals that there was once consideration for a woman to play the lead role in the iconic spy film series.

James Bond film had a chance to depict the 007 character being portrayed by a Female lead

Nicholas Shakespeare is a renowned novelist and biographer. In 2023, the novelist wrote a biography of great British writer Ian Fleming, who introduced the world to the spy character James Bond. In his biography, which is titled Ian Fleming: The Complete Man, Shakespeare wrote that “Casino Royale” producer Gregory Ratoff once envisioned a female taking on the titular role of James Bond. For the female spy character, Ratoff had Academy Award-winning actress Susan Hayward’s name in mind. Shakespeare wrote in the biography (via IndieWire):

“Since the mid-1950s, many well-known actors had been approached. Gregory Ratoff had the arresting idea of having Bond played by a woman, Susan Hayward. Ian had entertained several possibilities, from Richard Burton (‘I think that Richard Burton would be by far the best James Bond’), to James Stewart (‘I wouldn’t at all mind him as Bond if he can slightly anglicise his accent’), to James Mason (‘We might have to settle for him’).”

Witnessing an actress leading a Bond film seems like a dream for a progressive cinematic world, where, just like any other man, women are not even an ounce behind when it comes to showcasing their talent. The news that there was a possibility of witnessing a female Bond character seems extremely upsetting today, as Ratoff’s vision never came to fruition.

However, if only it had come to fruition, the movie could have been an addition to Hayward’s impressive list of roles. The actress was one of the most celebrated actresses of her era, having starred in several highly rated features, including I Married a Witch (1942), Canyon Passage (1946), Garden of Evil (1954), I’ll Cry Tomorrow (1955), and I Want To Live! (1958).

While not being able to play a lead role in a James Bond film was disappointing, it wasn’t a complete loss for Hayward at all.

Ian Fleming: The Complete Man hits bookstores on April 9.