James Bond has been mostly portrayed as an extremely handsome guy in the traditional sense before Martin Campbell brought in a tougher and rugged version of 007 with Daniel Craig. But before Craig and Peirce Brosnan took the iconic mantle, Michael Gambon was once eyed as one of the favorites to take the gig after Sean Connery’s illustrious run as Bond came to an end.
Michael Gambon, who sadly passed away at the age of 82, once opened up about being offered the role of 007 after Sir Sean Connery departed from the franchise. But due to his own insecurities at the time, Gambon refused to take the gig.
Michael Gambon Felt He Wasn’t Handsome Enough to Play James Bond
Known for playing Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter franchise, even before Michael Gambon rose to stardom, he was offered the golden opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Sean Connery. But considering the actors that preceded him for the role, especially Sir Connery, was extremely handsome, the Layer Cake star felt he wasn’t attractive enough to take the part.
He told The Independent:
“I was young and had hair, and was quite thin. George Lazenby played James Bond but wasn’t very good, so Cubby Broccoli got ten young stage actors, I was one of them, into an office in the West End and interviewed us. And I said, ‘I can’t play James Bond because I’m bald, and I’ve got a double chin, and I’ve got girl’s t**s. I’ve got all that, you see…”
Despite producer Cubby Broccoli’s reassurance, Gambon let the role slide, which later went to Australian actor George Lazenby, who quit the IP after On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Clint Eastwood Explained He Wasn’t British Enough for James Bond
It wasn’t only Michael Gambon who turned down the British Icon, as Clint Eastwood also wasn’t keen on starring as the skilled spy. Considering Eastwood wasn’t British and also had no interest in Bond, he let the role slide, but losing the iconic gig didn’t hamper his career, as the actor was already the biggest star on the planet, thanks to the Dollars Trilogy.
Per Irish Independent, Eastwood said,
“I thought James Bond should be British. I am of British descent but by that same token, I thought that it should be more of the culture there and also, it was not my thing.”
While Michael Gambon never got to be in the shoes of the British Spy, he did collaborate with one of the best 007, Daniel Craig, for Layer Cake, which scored high among critics.
Source: Irish Independent, The Independent
