After Daniel Craig’s thrilling final performance as James Bond in “No Time to Die,” the burning question arises: who will seize the iconic role next? Fans across the globe have been buzzing with excitement, passionately discussing their top picks for the coveted spot.
One thing that seems to unite everyone is the consensus that the next Bond must possess that unmistakable British charm. Throughout the illustrious history of the franchise, from the suave Sean Connery to the dashing Pierce Brosnan of the ’90s, each Bond actor has exuded sophistication and elegance.
Now, it’s your time to join in the excitement. Take part in this exhilarating quest and share your favorite contender below. Let’s hope we don’t encounter a repeat of the George Lazenby Bond mishap. Thankfully, Timothy Dalton managed to master the Bond pose flawlessly. Remember, we’re focusing solely on living actors here, as we embark on a thrilling casting call for the new James Bond, not a nostalgic journey speculating who would have been the best Bond in their respective eras.
1. Henry Cavill
Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill is a British actor, known for his roles in various movies and television series. He started his career in the early 2000s, with appearances in films like The Count of Monte Cristo and I Capture the Castle. He also had supporting roles in popular TV shows such as The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Midsomer Murders, and The Tudors.
Cavill’s acting career continued to evolve as he landed roles in Hollywood films like Tristan & Isolde, Stardust, Blood Creek, and Immortals. However, it was his portrayal of Superman in the DC Extended Universe that truly brought him into the spotlight. He played the iconic superhero in Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Justice League.
In addition to his superhero persona, Cavill also showcased his talent in the action spy film Mission: Impossible – Fallout, further solidifying his versatility as an actor.
Birthplace: Jersey, Channel Islands
Age: 40
2. Tom Hardy
Edward Thomas Hardy, born on 15 September 1977, is a well-known English actor and producer. He kickstarted his film career in Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down (2001) after studying acting at Drama Centre London. Since then, he has appeared in various films, including Star Trek: Nemesis (2002), RocknRolla (2008), Bronson (2008), Warrior (2011), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), Lawless (2012), Locke (2013), The Drop (2014), and The Revenant (2015). Hardy’s outstanding performance in The Revenant earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. In 2015, he brought the iconic “Mad” Max Rockatansky to life in Mad Max: Fury Road and played both Kray twins in Legend. He has also collaborated with director Christopher Nolan in Inception (2010), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), and Dunkirk (2017). Additionally, Hardy portrayed Eddie Brock / Venom in Marvel’s antihero film Venom (2018).
Hardy has not only made his mark on the big screen but has also made notable television appearances. He starred in the HBO war drama miniseries Band of Brothers (2001), the BBC historical drama miniseries The Virgin Queen (2005), and played Bill Sikes in the BBC’s miniseries Oliver Twist (2007). He also appeared in ITV’s Wuthering Heights (2008), the Sky 1 drama series The Take (2009), and the BBC historical crime drama series Peaky Blinders (2013–17). Furthermore, Hardy created, co-produced, and took the lead in the eight-part historical fiction series Taboo (2017) on BBC One and FX.
Not limited to the screen, Hardy has showcased his talent on both British and American stages. His remarkable performances in In Arabia We’d All Be Kings (2003) as Skank earned him a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for Most Promising Newcomer. He was also recognized with the 2003 London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Outstanding Newcomer for his roles in In Arabia We’d All Be Kings and Blood, where he portrayed Luca. Hardy received positive reviews for his role in the play The Long Red Road (2010) and starred in the production of The Man of Mode (2007).
Beyond his acting career, Hardy actively engages in charity work and serves as an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust. In recognition of his contributions to the dramatic arts, he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2018 Birthday Honours.
Birthplace: Hammersmith, London, England, UK
Age: 46
3. Idris Elba
Idrissa Akuna Elba, born on September 6, 1972, is a multi-talented English actor, writer, producer, musician, DJ, rapper, and singer. You may recognize him from his notable roles such as Stringer Bell in the HBO series, The Wire, DCI John Luther in the BBC One series, Luther, and Nelson Mandela in the biographical film, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
Elba has received recognition for his talent, with four Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film, winning one, and five Primetime Emmy nominations. He has also appeared in films like American Gangster and Prometheus, both directed by Ridley Scott.
Marvel fans will remember Elba as Heimdall in the Thor series, as well as his appearances in Avengers: Age of Ultron and Avengers: Infinity War. Other notable films in his repertoire include Pacific Rim, Beasts of No Nation, Molly’s Game, and Star Trek Beyond.
In addition to his acting career, Elba is also a skilled DJ who goes by the name DJ Big Driis (or Big Driis the Londoner). He has made a mark in the music industry as an R&B musician as well.
Elba’s talent and influence have not gone unnoticed, as he was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2016. His films have achieved remarkable success at the box office, grossing over $9.8 billion globally, with over $3.6 billion coming from North America alone. This places him among the top 20 highest-grossing actors to date.
Birthplace: Hackney, England, UK
Age: 51
4. Michael Fassbender
Michael Fassbender, an Irish-German actor, was born on 2 April 1977. He made his feature film debut in the fantasy war epic 300 (2007), playing the role of a Spartan warrior. Prior to this, he had appeared in various stage productions and had starring roles on television, including the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers (2001) and the Sky One fantasy drama Hex (2004–05).
Fassbender gained recognition for his performance as IRA activist Bobby Sands in the film Hunger (2008), for which he received a British Independent Film Award. He went on to appear in other notable films, such as Fish Tank (2009), Inglourious Basterds (2009), Jane Eyre (2011), A Dangerous Method (2011), Prometheus (2012), and its sequel Alien: Covenant (2017), as well as the musical comedy-drama Frank (2014).
In 2011, Fassbender took on the role of the Marvel Comics supervillain Magneto in X-Men: First Class, and continued to portray the character in subsequent films, including X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), and Dark Phoenix (2019). His portrayal of a sex addict in Shame (2011) earned him the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival and nominations for Golden Globe and BAFTA Awards.
Fassbender’s performance as slave owner Edwin Epps in 12 Years a Slave (2013) received critical acclaim and earned him his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He also appeared in Ridley Scott’s The Counselor (2013), portrayed the title role in Steve Jobs (2015), and played Macbeth in Justin Kurzel’s adaptation of the Shakespearean play. For Steve Jobs, he received nominations for the Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and SAG Awards.
In addition to his acting career, Fassbender produced and starred in the western Slow West (2015).
Birthplace: Heidelberg, Germany
Age: 46
5. Tom Hiddleston
Thomas William Hiddleston, born on February 9, 1981, is a talented English actor, film producer, and musician. He has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including a Golden Globe Award, a Laurence Olivier Award, and two Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
Originally from London, England, Hiddleston excelled academically and earned a double first in Classics from the University of Cambridge. He later pursued his passion for acting by studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Early in his career, he showcased his talent on the West End stage in productions such as Cymbeline (2007) and Ivanov (2008). His remarkable performance in Cymbeline earned him the Olivier Award for Best Newcomer in a Play, and he was also nominated for the same award for his role in Othello (2008). Hiddleston’s portrayal of the title character in Coriolanus (2013-2014) garnered critical acclaim, earning him the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor and an Olivier Award nomination. He made his Broadway debut in 2019 with the revival of Betrayal.
Hiddleston made his foray into the world of film with his debut in the drama Unrelated (2007). However, it was his portrayal of Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that brought him widespread recognition. He appeared as Loki in various films, including Thor (2011), The Avengers (2012), Thor: The Dark World (2013), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). In 2011, he won the Empire Award for Best Male Newcomer and was nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award. Additionally, Hiddleston has showcased his acting prowess in notable films such as Steven Spielberg’s War Horse (2011), The Deep Blue Sea (2011), Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris (2011), the BBC series Henry IV and Henry V (2012), and Only Lovers Left Alive (2013), a romantic vampire film. In 2015, he starred in Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak, Ben Wheatley’s High Rise, and portrayed country music legend Hank Williams in the biopic I Saw the Light. His first leading role in a big-budget film outside of the Marvel universe was in Kong: Skull Island (2017).
Hiddleston not only shines on the screen but also ventured into television. He starred in and served as an executive producer for the limited series The Night Manager (2016), which aired on AMC and BBC. For this exceptional performance, he received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie and Outstanding Limited Series. He also won his first Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film.
Birthplace: Westminster, London, England, UK
Age: 42
6. Sam Heughan
Sam Heughan, a Scottish actor, is widely recognized for his exceptional portrayal of Jamie Fraser in the Starz series Outlander. His remarkable performance has earned him four Saturn Awards nominations and a nomination for the Critics Choice Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series.
In 2003, Heughan was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Most Promising Performer for his outstanding role in the play Outlying Islands, which was showcased at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs.
Acknowledging his remarkable contributions to acting and charitable endeavors, the University of Stirling awarded Heughan an honorary doctorate in June 2019. His significant artistic achievements and philanthropic work were further recognized by the University of Glasgow, which bestowed upon him another honorary doctorate in July 2019.
Birthplace: New Galloway, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, UK
Age: 43
7. Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Aaron Perry Taylor-Johnson, a British actor and screenwriter, has gained recognition for his notable roles in various films. He gained prominence for his portrayal of the titular character in the Kick-Ass films and Lieutenant Ford in Godzilla (2014).
From a young age, Taylor-Johnson showed an interest in performing and made his debut at the age of six. He has appeared in several films, including Shanghai Knights (2003), where he played a young Charlie Chaplin, The Illusionist (2006), and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008). However, it was his breakthrough performance in the John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy (2009) that truly put him on the map.
Taylor-Johnson continued to showcase his talent in diverse roles, such as Ben in the crime thriller Savages (2012), Count Vronsky in Joe Wright’s adaptation of Anna Karenina (2012), and Lt. Brody in Gareth Edwards’ monster movie Godzilla (2014). His portrayal of the mentally ill kidnapper Ray Marcus in Tom Ford’s thriller Nocturnal Animals (2016) earned him critical acclaim, leading to him winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor and receiving a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
Initially known as Aaron Johnson, he adopted the name Aaron Taylor-Johnson in 2013, coinciding with the release of Kick-Ass 2. This change came about as a result of his marriage to director Sam Taylor-Wood, prompting him to legally change his name.
Birthplace: High Wycombe, England, UK
Age: 33
8. Luke Evans
Luke George Evans, a Welsh actor, kicked off his career in the theater, gracing the stages of London’s West End in hit productions like Rent, Miss Saigon, and Piaf. However, it was his appearance in the 2010 Clash of the Titans remake that marked his breakthrough in the film industry. Since then, Evans has become a familiar face in action and thriller movies such as Immortals (2011), The Raven (2012), and the revamped version of The Three Musketeers (2011).
In 2013, Evans took on the role of the main antagonist Owen Shaw in the immensely popular Fast & Furious 6. He also portrayed Bard the Bowman in Peter Jackson’s epic three-part adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Not one to be typecast, Evans stepped into the shoes of the iconic vampire Dracula in the character’s film origin story, Dracula Untold.
2017 was a big year for Evans, as he took on the role of the arrogant and self-obsessed Gaston in Disney’s live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. He also delved into the fascinating world of William Moulton Marston, the American psychologist who created the beloved character Wonder Woman, in the biographical drama Professor Marston and the Wonder Women.
Birthplace: Pontypool, Wales, UK
Age: 44
9. Hugh Jackman
Hugh Michael Jackman, born on October 12, 1968, is an Australian actor, singer, and producer. He gained immense popularity for his portrayal of Wolverine in the X-Men film series, a role that earned him the Guinness World Record for “longest career as a live-action Marvel superhero.” But that’s not all there is to Jackman’s career.
He has also showcased his talent in various lead roles in films such as the romantic comedy Kate & Leopold, the action-packed Van Helsing, the gripping drama The Prestige, the fantasy drama The Fountain, the period romance Australia, the film adaptation of Les Misérables, the thrilling Prisoners, and the musical extravaganza The Greatest Showman. In fact, his performance in The Greatest Showman even earned him a Grammy Award for Best Soundtrack Album.
Jackman’s talent doesn’t stop at the big screen. He has made a mark in Broadway theatre as well. In 2004, he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role in The Boy from Oz. He has also hosted the Tony Awards four times and received an Emmy Award for hosting the 2005 ceremony. Not to mention, he took the stage as the host of the 81st Academy Awards in 2009.
In recognition of his contributions to the performing arts and the global community, Jackman was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours. It’s clear that his talents and impact extend far beyond the silver screen.
Birthplace: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Age: 54
10. Richard Madden
Richard Madden, a Scottish actor and producer, was born on June 18, 1986. He grew up near Glasgow, in Renfrewshire, and began his acting journey as a child actor. While studying at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Madden made his stage debut.
After that, Madden continued to pursue his acting career and eventually landed a breakthrough role in 2011. He portrayed Robb Stark in HBO’s popular fantasy drama Game of Thrones. His performance earned him the Screen International Award for Star of Tomorrow and two SAG Award nominations for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, along with other prestigious accolades.
In addition to Game of Thrones, Madden took on various roles that showcased his talent. He portrayed Cosimo de’ Medici in the first season of the historical fiction series Medici: Masters of Florence in 2016. He also starred in Disney’s Cinderella in 2015 and Netflix’s romantic comedy Ibiza in 2018.
However, it was his leading role as David Budd in the BBC thriller series Bodyguard in 2018 that truly propelled Madden to critical acclaim and international recognition. His performance in the series garnered widespread praise and established him as a prominent figure in the industry.
Birthplace: Elderslie, United Kingdom
Age: 37
11. Gerard Butler
Gerard James Butler, born on 13 November 1969, is a multi-talented Scottish actor, producer, singer, and musician. After initially studying law, Butler shifted gears and ventured into acting in the mid-1990s. He started with small roles in notable productions like Mrs Brown (1997), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), and Tale of the Mummy (1998), a James Bond film.
In 2000, Butler took on the role of Dracula in the horror film Dracula 2000, featuring Christopher Plummer and Jonny Lee Miller. Following this, he portrayed Attila the Hun in the miniseries Attila (2001) and appeared in films such as Reign of Fire alongside Christian Bale (2002) and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life with Angelina Jolie (2003). He also played André Marek in the science fiction adventure Timeline (2003), based on Michael Crichton’s novel.
One of Butler’s most notable roles came in 2004 when he starred as Erik, The Phantom, in Joel Schumacher’s film adaptation of the musical The Phantom of the Opera, opposite Emmy Rossum. This performance earned him a Satellite Award nomination for Best Actor.
While Attila and The Phantom of the Opera were significant opportunities, it was in 2007 that Butler truly gained global recognition for his portrayal of King Leonidas in Zack Snyder’s fantasy war film 300. This role garnered him nominations for an Empire Award for Best Actor, a Saturn Award for Best Actor, and a win for the MTV Movie Award for Best Fight.
In the 2010s, Butler lent his voice to the character Stoick the Vast in the animated action-fantasy film How to Train Your Dragon and its subsequent sequels. He also took on the role of Secret Service agent Mike Banning in the action thriller Olympus Has Fallen (2010), which he later reprised in London Has Fallen and Angel Has Fallen. In addition, he portrayed military leader Tullus Aufidius in the 2011 film Coriolanus, a modernized adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy. Another noteworthy role was his portrayal of Sam Childers in the 2011 action biopic Machine Gun Preacher.
Birthplace: Paisley, Scotland, UK
Age: 53
