The Bonds

Connery was the first actor to play Bond in films. Many consider him as the best Bond interpreter.

Connery was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on August 25, 1930. He was a bodybuilder and was chosen to play Bond in 1962’s Dr. No. The film was a success and led to 4 more Bond films during the next 5 years. Tired of being identified only as 007, Connery quit after You Only Live Twice, though he was lured back for one more film, Diamonds Are Forever, and then left the series. However, he returned 12 years later for a final appearance in Never Say Never Again.

Connery earned an Oscar in 1988 of his role as Jimmy Malone in The Untouchables. He was also chosen as “The Sexiest Man Alive” in 1989. Connery is still appearing in successful films, despite suffering from various throat illnesses.

Lazenby was the unlucky one-time Bond, who had to step into Sean Connery’s shoes after he left the series.

Lazenby was born in Queanbeyan City, New South Wales, Australia on September 5, 1939. He came to England in 1964 to become a top male model. Lazenby was chosen to play Bond during a search for a new Bond way back in 1968 and didn’t have any prior acting experience except for TV commercials. After On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Lazenby announced that he wouldn’t do any more Bond films. Connery was lured back for the next movie and Lazenby’s acting career waned.

Lazenby eventually returned to acting after a long layoff, during which he raced cars.

Roger Moore is the longest lasting Bond. He brought an entirely new, more comical look to Bond when he started to portray him in the 1970’s.

Moore was born in south London on October 14, 1927. He came to US in 1953 and was considered for the part of Bond during initial casting search in 1962, but he had a contract with another studio. He became famous as Simon Templar in the TV-series “The Saint”. The Bond role came to Moore in 1972, when he was hired as the successor of Sean Connery. Moore made 7 Bond films between 1973 and 1985. He retired after A View to a Kill and was succeeded by Timothy Dalton the following year.

Moore has acted sporadically since that time. He also works for UNICEF as a good will ambassador.

Timothy Dalton is considered as the gritty Bond, who’s portrayal signals a more realistic characterization, away from what Bond had evolved into during the Moore era.

Dalton was born in Colwyn Bay, Wales on March 21, 1946, but grew up in Manchester. He has a strong theatre background. He joined the Birgingham Repertory Theatre in 1966 and played there many leading roles. Dalton replaced old Roger Moore in 1986 and made two Bond films, The Living Daylights and Licence To Kill. After the 6 years layoff of the Bond series, Dalton announced in 1994 that he won’t reprise the role of Bond.

Pierce Brosnan had actually been on the list for the next Bond since 1984. He finally landed the role in 1995 in GoldenEye after the franchise’s 6 year hiatus from production.

He was born in Navan, County Meath, Ireland on May 16, 1953, but moved to London with his family in 1964. Brosnan became well known as Remington Steele which debuted in 1982. Brosnan was first rumoured to replace Roger Moore in 1984, but he was unable to accept it because of his contract with the Steele TV series and the role went to Timothy Dalton. In 1994, when Dalton announced that he would not reprise the role of Bond in the next Bond film, Brosnan finally got the role. His first Bond movie, GoldenEye, has grossed over $350 million worldwide, more than any other Bond film.

His late wife, Australian actress Cassandra Harris, was a Bond girl herself, portraying Countess Lisl in For Your Eyes Only.

Daniel Craig is the sixth actor to portray the secret agent James Bond 007. After 18 long months of rumored speculation for a Brosnan successor, Craig was announced that he had the role on the HMS President in London on October 14, 2005.

He was born in Chester, Cheshire, England, the son of a steel erector and an art teacher. He was brought up in Liverpool and moved to London when he was 16 to join the National Youth Theatre, later securing a place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Daniel’s film career began with The Power of One in 1992, and he later gained recognition with the hit TV series Our Friends in the North in 1996. Later credits include the 2002 Sam Mendes movie Road to Perdition with Tom Hanks, Sylvia with Gwyneth Paltrow, and Enduring Love with Rhys Ifans.