Antony Starr has been on the hunt for one of Hollywood’s most iconic roles long before he was seen as Homelander. The New Zealand actor recently spoke about an audition he gave in the mid-2000s, when they were casting the next James Bond.
Starr was quite candid about his expectations for the experience, recalling that he didn’t have much going for him and that it was a surreal moment that came out of nowhere.
‘The Boys’ Star Antony Starr Once Auditioned For James Bond And Knew He Wouldn’t Get It
At that time, the producers of Bond were scouting the world for a new face to take the franchise forward, and Daniel Craig eventually emerged as the choice. Starr was one of many hopefuls who ended up in the mix, although perhaps he never thought he had a realistic shot.
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Starr remembered the audition as “throwing a baitless hook into a very large pond,” and knew that his chances were “very slim. “It was like throwing a baitless hook into a very large pond, knowing you’re not gonna catch the fish. I’ve seen it. That was when Daniel Craig was getting it.”
The actor knew that Bond producers were looking around the world for the right talent, and he knew that they were looking for a very special one. Starr admitted he was just one of many actors who happened to get noticed during that search.
“They were just searching the globe, and I was just one of the little ones somewhere in there that got caught in the net.” The timing was also a factor. The audition was at a time when Daniel Craig was becoming the number one contender and would eventually become the face of the franchise in 2006’s ‘Casino Royale’.
Looking back, Starr realized he was playing for a future Bond who would redefine the character for generations to come. “It was a bit surreal. It came out of the blue, and I sort of went in and did that reading. It’s not very good, but it’s reflective of where I was at.”
Antony Starr Has No Regrets Despite His “Worst” Performance
The funniest part of Starr’s memory was his honest feedback about the audition. He teased that his performance of the iconic “Bond, James Bond” line might have been the worst of all time. Starr didn’t seek to rewrite history, but rather to accept the flaws of the tape.
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He said the footage reflects exactly where he was as an actor at that stage of his career, before many of the opportunities that would later elevate his profile internationally.
Starr’s attitude was definitely relatable. He sees the audition failure as a moment in his life and not a failure. And considering where that journey eventually led, from aspiring Bond candidate to one of television’s most memorable villains, it’s safe to say things worked out just fine in the end.
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