James Bond is one of the most iconic film franchises based on Ian Fleming’s novels. Unlike the books, where readers imagine Agent 007 in their own way, the movies have featured several actors who have donned the character’s iconic tuxedo over the years, each bringing their own charisma and aura to the role.
Now, even after more than six decades of Sean Connery kickstarting the franchise with his first Bond portrayal, people still engage in heated debates about the best version of the MI6 spy on screen. While many argue that Daniel Craig or Connery delivered the most definitive embodiments, the legendary actor Sir Christopher Lee had his own clear personal favourite. And, his vantage point placed his opinion above the rest.
Christopher Lee’s Personal Connection To The World Of James Bond
Christopher Lee, a Hollywood icon in his own right, was one of the few stars in the industry to enjoy an almost seven-decade-long career. Before his passing in 2015, Lee was most notably known for his portrayal of Count Dracula during the golden era of Hammer Film Productions. He is also widely recognised for his crucial roles in ‘The Lord of the Rings‘ and the ‘Star Wars‘ film series.
But besides these achievements, what many people do not know is that Lee had a personal connection to James Bond. Even though he famously played the villainous Scaramanga in ‘The Man with the Golden Gun‘, his connection to the franchise runs deeper than that. He was related to Ian Fleming through marriage.
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Like many actors of his generation, including James Stewart, Marlene Dietrich, and Audrey Hepburn, Sir Christipopher Lee also played an active role in the British Armed Forces during WWII. As someone who could speak eight languages at a conversational level, he worked with special operations units tracking down dangerous Nazi war criminals.
During that time, he often played golf with Fleming, and it is believed that Lee’s experiences in international espionage inspired Fleming while shaping the character who would eventually become Bond.
Christopher Lee’s Pick for the Most Authentic On-Screen 007
Now that you know about Lee’s personal ties to Bond and Fleming, and why his opinions about the character carry particular weight, his endorsement of Pierce Brosnan as the near-perfect Bond on screen is hard to ignore. The actor played 007 from 1995 to 2002 in five films: ‘GoldenEye,’ ‘Tomorrow Never Dies,’ ‘The World Is Not Enough,’ and ‘Die Another Day.’
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Lee told Total Film in 2005, “I know who Ian thought was the best person to play Bond: James Mason, who would have been marvellous. He had all the right qualities. I don’t think anyone has ever succeeded in putting Ian Fleming’s James Bond up on the screen. The closest in my opinion is Pierce Brosnan.“
While Mason had once been considered for roles in adaptations such as ‘From Russia with Love‘ and ‘Dr. No‘, Brosnan rose to his own in the franchise. Sure, there are many actors who said a resounding no to the legendary role, but Brosnan was quite fond of it and expressed displeasure upon his exit.
At this point, we would be remiss not to acknowledge that, despite being a fan favourite, he was often let down by substandard screenwriting during his tenure as James Bond. Now, fans are waiting to see who picks up the mantle and the shaken-not-stirred martini next.
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