No Time To Die is the latest addition to the James Bond franchise. It is a bittersweet farewell for lead actor Daniel Craig, who has played the titular character five times. His career as the 007 agent began 15 years ago with 2006's Casino Royale. Not only that, No Time To Die is the 25th Bond film and the eponymous film series will be celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2022!
We last saw James Bond onscreen in 2015's Spectre, driving away in his iconic Aston Martin DB5 with love interest doctor Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux). In No Time To Die, the agent has left active service and is enjoying the idyllic life in Jamaica—but outside forces conspire to bring him back into the fold. Joining familiar faces is newcomer Lashana Lynch, who plays young MI6 agent Nomi.
Ahead of the film's theatrical release, Cosmo joined a round table interview with the cast's two female leads, Léa and Lashana, to talk about Bond, female empowerment, filming in international locations, and more.
Lashana Lynch on playing a brand-new character, especially a female MI6 agent.
"I met Barbara Broccoli in a really interesting way, that did not make me connect what I was doing to film at all. I was doing a play called Ear for Eye at the Royal Court Theatre, which has since turned into a film that Barbara Broccoli has produced also, and I thought that doing the play was special enough to be able to meet her. But then two weeks after, I was asked to do a tape for a mysterious film with a mysterious role, and I didn't have a clue I was auditioning for a Bond movie. I was just happy to be asked to be involved, and then a few months later I was asked to do another tape, and then I was asked to come and meet Barbara and Cary [Joji Fukunaga], then I was asked to meet Daniel [Craig], and then I was asked to do a stunt test, and it all just kind of like snowballed into this massive experience, *incredible* experience, that even if I didn't get the part, I think I would have really learned so much from it, from that alone, and taken it throughout my career. So yeah, going through the process was amazing! I felt really relaxed, and everyone told me nothing. *laughs* They literally just said, "It's a Bond film and we wanna create this new dynamic." I was like, "between who?" They thought, "Well, we'll see." So I didn't know anything, and I'm glad now [that] I didn't know anything because once I realized who Nomi was, it made me even more excited. Because it was just like a massive surprise that...I guess I really needed for my career. So here we are."
Lashana Lynch on how she found out she landed the role in No Time To Die.
"I was specifically at the Barbican Theatre, I had just watched a play, and when I stepped out of the auditiorium I had probably about 50 missed calls from my team. I was like, "What's happening?!" Something must have happened, and I called them back, and they were all on the phone, patching in, and I really didn't know what was going on. But then there was one amongst everyone speaking, there was one word I think, or two words, "got it." I heard amongst everyone "got it." I was like, "Are you talking about the Bond film?!" "Yeah, you've got it!" I was like, "Say that again just so I'm not making it up, because I feel like I'm gonna end this conversation and feel like I've made it up." And that's what I did: I went home, and I sat down and kind of stared at the walls and convinced myself that it didn't happen, and just carried on with normal life. And then the next day I went, *gasps* "My gosh, I just got a part in a Bond film!" So it was amazing, it was really amazing to be in the center of London getting a role that is about the center of London. [It] was a very special moment for me and my career."
Léa Seydoux on playing Doctor Madeleine Swann for the second time.
"[She] was in Spectre, and now she came back in No TIme To Die, but this time the story between Madeleine and James Bond is a bit more developed, and we understand their relationship through a deeper perspective. She has a secret that she will tell James Bond, that will change everything...I think what gave more depth in a way is that she has become more vulnerable, so she has those paradoxes: She's in love with James Bond, but at the same time she tries to protect herself, and she has that secret that she will reveal to James Bond—but there's also the love story. The love story gets a bit more complicated between the two of them, and you will understand why when you see the film. It was really nice to explore that and to have a character that is more emotional. In a film like James Bond, it's nice to have characters you can relate to."
Léa Seydoux on the change in relationship between Madeleine Swann and James Bond.
"This time it's more about their love story, and that's really the center of the film, I would say. It was really nice to come back for this film and be able to develop a bit more of Madeleine, and this time we have access to who she is really. I was really happy to develop her and I think the story with James Bond is now very consistent. It's the heartbeat of the film, I would say—the love story."
On their characters in No Time To Die.
Lashana: "It feels very special to play a secret agent. Even saying the words 'secret agent' sounds like you've just entered this special world where you get to just...learn loads of secrets. I got to train as a spy and I now feel like I'm prepared to undertake a role like this again and again. They just did so well in the prepation that now I feel like I have a good grounding in the way I characterize Nomi. The stunt team have been incredible, and they've really allowed me to step into a part of myself that you don't often get to do as an actor, so I just feel very grateful."
Léa: "I was very happy to come back to play Madeleine because this time she's different from what we saw in Spectre. In Spectre she was maybe resisting, there was a kind of resistance. This time she's more vulnerable, and it's great that I was able to develop her. Also, this time the love story is really the center of the film. It will be a romantic James Bond [film]."
On filming No Time To Die in several international locations.
Lashana: "Shooting in Jamaica was probably...one of the most special experiences I've had in my career, actually. Not only is it Bond's spiritual home, but it's *my* home. My parents were born there, my family is Jamaican, and my culture is really, really important to me. So to be able to merge my culture and my career, and work with the Jamaican crew, the Jamaican catering, just being in and around the island...a part of the island that myself and my mum (who I brought with me) hadn't experienced before...it just kept me really in touch with who I was at work. You know, sometimes you eradicate parts of yourself in order to step into someone else's shoes, to serve the character in the best way possible, but now I got to put even more of myself and my family background into my work. So it was really special and something I really hope to be able to do again."
Léa: "I really loved when we shot in Scotland and we did the car chase in the Range Rover, that was really fun. I also had a scene in a train station in Matera, Italy, and that was also great. I really enjoyed everything. But when we were traveling, it was special."
On working with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, only the second female screenwriter in the entire Bond franchise.
Lashana: "Phoebe has a really special way of presenting awkwardness and authenticity, and that kind of kitchen sink drama, fly on the wall-type drama that I really enjoy watching, so I was a fan of hers anyway. So without her writing anything for Nomi I already knew that we were gonna have a connection. And we did! We sat down for a brief moment...and I just told her exactly what I wanted. She just happened to be exactly on the same page as me. She saw her [Nomi] as this really straight down the line, confident, maybe *slightly* awkward...her disposition is that kind of saying things without thinking. Not thinking before you speak, but also it landing so comedically you can't help but love her? And then there's the toughness that kind of creates that really nice juxtaposition, so it was incredible working with her. We didn't get much time with her, she's so busy doing all of these wonderful things, but to create [a character] who was someone that I could relate to made me confident that other people would be able to relate to her, too."
Léa: "Phoebe is a great screenwriter and she's a great actress...We are the same age. And so I think that we are from this generation where we are more—affirmed? Aligned? We are from this generation and we want to stand for equality. [We are] more assertive, yes. There is something more *actual* in her writing, the women have become more interesting in this film. It's the first time that we see real characters with real depth, and [they are] not only here to serve James Bond. They are interesting and funny and deep."
On the difficulties in being part of the James Bond franchise.
Lashana: "Well, I was new to this kind of stunt world. So diving in before we'd even gotten to the shoot with wushu, boxing...I cleaned my diet up. I was in the stunt room nearly every day actually, just going hard and making sure I was physically and mentally prepared to undertake this role and to convey it in a way that I think the franchise deserves, but also audience members deserve. It's a new character that I could do anything with, so it was really exciting for me to be able to put my own spin on everything, because it was brand-new. So the stunts were a challenge, but I loved them so much that I feel like I am now a potential stunt woman. I have a whole new appreciation for stunt scenes in general and this film gives you that in bucketloads."
Léa: "It felt different from Spectre because [No Time To Die] also [had] a new director. Cary Fukunaga's style is very different from Sam Mendes', and it was nice actually because it felt like a different film. And also the character, the way my character is portrayed in the film, I think that this time she has more depth, she's more mature; she is more of a woman I would say, more complex. It was nice to explore something else."
On why the audience should watch No Time To Die on the big screen.
Lashana: "I feel like the anticipation alone...even if you're not a Bond fan, I'd wanna run to the cinema to see what this franchise has in store. And what it does have in store is an amalgamation of different genres of cinema: An ode to classic cinema, fresh takes on new ways to shoot, we shot on film which doesn't often happen, we've got a really cool cast who dedicated so much time to crafting these characters that I think will definitely go down in cinema history. And it's a Bond film you know? There's everything from explosions, to all of these great action scenes, and love stories, and everything that kind of makes you really wanna sit down and immerse yourself in this world. And that's exactly what No Time To Die does, it immerses you in a feeling that now we get to feel collectively around the world, which is really special."
Léa: "I think that No Time To Die is the first big film coming out after the pandemic that people are craving for. It's pure entertainment, but it's also a very beautiful film. Beautifully shot with consistent characters that are complex and deep, and at the same time it's very funny, witty...it's a national treasure in England. And it's iconic all around the world. So I think that yes, people are very excited to discover the last of Daniel Craig's Bond [film]."
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