For decades, the “Bond Girl” was one of the most coveted roles in Hollywood. But when Italian icon Monica Bellucci joined the James Bond franchise in 2015 with ‘Spectre’, she made it clear that she wasn’t interested in that title.
At 51 years old, Bellucci’s casting challenged one of the franchise’s longest-running traditions, and she completely redefined what it meant to be a “Bond Girl”.
Monica Bellucci Rejected The “Bond Girl” Label
Monica Bellucci had been on the Bond producers’ radar for years. According to ‘Some Kind of Hero: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films’ by Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhury, producer Barbara Broccoli revealed that Eon productions was trying to cast Bellucci for a long time.
Related: Why Vesper Lynd In ‘Casino Royale’ Remains The Gold Standard For Bond Girls Even Now
In fact, she was considered for a role long before Daniel Craig took over the franchise. In the 1997 film ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’, when Bellucci was in her 30s, she screen-tested for the role of Paris Carver.
It was reported that Pierce Brosnan, then playing James Bond, really tried to get her casted. But the part ultimately went to Teri Hatcher. Despite missing out on that role, Bellucci remained a favourite amongst Bond producers.
They finally found the perfect role for Bellucci in the 2015 film ‘Spectre’. But when she was asked to join the Bond franchise again, Bellucci, then in her 50s, was genuinely startled. “My first thought was, ‘How can I be a Bond girl at fifty?’” she questioned.
After her audition, director Sam Mendes explained that he specifically wanted a woman closer in age to Daniel Craig’s Bond in this film. The filmmakers were looking to move away from the franchise’s old formula and bring a fresh perspective. And Monica Bellucci embraced this change.
Monica Bellucci Prefers “Bond Woman” Over “Bond Girl”
Speaking to The Guardian about her role in Spectre, Monica Bellucci famously rejected the label of “Bond Girl”. She declared, “I’m not a Bond girl, I’m a Bond woman.”
Bellucci’s casting was a notable change in the Bond franchise. By that point, the term “Bond Girl” had become synonymous with much younger actresses. These actresses were in their twenties when they appeared next to 007.
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Compared to those women, Bellucci hardly fits the traditional casting mould. It was one of those rare occasions in the history of the Bond franchise where the female lead was older than—or at least very close in age to—the actor playing Bond.
In ‘Spectre’, Bellucci played Lucia Sciarra, the widow of a dangerous assassin Bond was tracking. Although the assassin was dead, Lucia possessed valuable information and a ring that could reveal her husband’s connection to a criminal organisation. So naturally, Bond and Lucia became entangled.
Rather than being remembered as just another Bond Girl, Bellucci redefined the role for a modern audience. Lucia was sophisticated, confident, experienced and had her own unique charm. By insisting on being called a “Bond Woman”, Bellucci challenged a decades-old franchise tradition and proved she can capture the audience in any role.
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