Former Bond Casting Director Says 007 Should Stay White and Male

Former James Bond casting director Debbie McWilliams believes the famous British spy should still be a white man.

She said the character should stick to the original idea of creator Ian Fleming, according to a report from GB News on Monday.

McWilliams, who was in charge of casting for the last 14 Bond films over 40 years, shared her thoughts during an interview at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic.

When asked if James Bond could be played by a woman or a non-white actor, she replied, “Not in my opinion. No. Ian Fleming wrote a character, and that’s the character that stays.”

McWilliams left the franchise before Amazon MGM Studios took over the Bond series in 2025. She noted that the role needs an actor who can show a sense of danger.

“Part of his job description is licence to kill.

So you’ve got to think that he could pick a gun up and shoot you. So he’s got to have a kind of threat about him,” the former director explained.

She also talked about how different actors have played the role through the years. She mentioned that Pierce Brosnan brought charm and sophistication, while Daniel Craig made Bond “much tougher.”

Even though she is not casting for the franchise anymore, McWilliams hinted that big changes might be coming.

“It’s about to change dramatically, is all I can say,” she said.