Acclaimed actor Matthew Rhys, known for his roles in Perry Mason and The Americans, recently revealed that a joke gone wrong cost him the chance to play James Bond. Rhys was supposed to replace Pierce Brosnan as James Bond after Brosnan hung up his tux after Die Another Day.
A question about what he would change about the character caught Rhys off guard during the audition. When the actor realized he was in a tight spot, he joked that he would handicap James Bond by giving him a limp or an eye patch. Rhys’s attempt to make a witty remark cost him the role of the legendary spy. Instead, the part went to Daniel Craig, one of the most popular Bond actors.
One Bad Joke Costed Matthew Rhys A James Bond Role
Matthew Rhys is a phenomenal actor, and his performance as Perry Mason in the 2020 HBO series was outstanding. But Rhys could have been much more famous if he hadn’t messed up his James Bond audition.
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When Pierce Brosnan announced he was leaving the James Bond franchise, Rhys told The Times he was the first in line to take over the role. In his audition, Rhys felt confident that he would be cast in the role.
Things went downhill, however, when Matthew Rhys was asked a question for which he had no answer. In a moment of panic, Rhys spewed, “I’d give him a limp.” when asked what he would change about Bond.
“We were just told to wear a dark suit and read Casino Royale. They said, ‘What would you do differently with Bond?’ And I just remember going, ‘Ah.’ I was so not anticipating that question. And then I was like, is it a trick question? Are they waiting for people to go, ‘I wouldn’t do anything. He’s perfect’? I’d give him a limp. I said, ‘Limp?’ Nothing. ‘Eye patch?’ Nothing.”
The producers didn’t find Rhys’s reply funny, so he didn’t get the part. Instead, Daniel Craig, who played Bond for over a decade, was cast instead. Craig added new layers of complexity to the role.
Daniel Craig Was A Shot At Fame
Despite Rhys’s disappointment, Daniel Craig made an astounding $85.4 million for his five Bond films. According to Celebrity Net Worth, his total wealth is currently $160 million, so this is just a small fraction of that.
Craig’s portrayal of James Bond is arguably the most lucrative role of his acting career. The first film, Casino Royale, brought in $3.2 million; the second, Quantum of Solace, $7.2 million; the third, Skyfall, $20 million; the fourth, Spectre, $30 million; and the fifth, No Time to Die, $25 million.
To continue playing Benoit Blanc in the Knives Out films, he reportedly inked a deal worth over $100 million. Craig has made significant real estate investments with the help of his actress wife, Rachel Weisz.
They paid $6 million for their 3,200-square-foot East Village apartment and spent $6.75 million on a brownstone in Brooklyn. Craig’s two-story London apartment is located close to Regent’s Park.
Source: The Times
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