Olga picked as new Bond girl
2008-01-08 17:30
Los Angeles - In the secretive world
of movie spy James Bond, the "Bond girl" for the new
instalment in the movie series had been top secret, but on
Monday Bond's backers said Ukrainian bombshell Olga Kurylenko
is the actress.
Columbia Pictures, the film studio behind the popular
movies about the British secret agent, said the 28 year-old
Kurylenko has been cast in one of the most coveted roles in the
movies - 007's sidekick for the still untitled Bond flick.
The film, which is the 22nd in the series that dates back
to 1962's Dr No, is due in theatres in November and stars
Daniel Craig as the dashing British spy who regularly saves the
world from a destructive evil villain.
Early reports had actress Gemma Arterton as the new Bond
girl, but even though Arterton has a role in the new film it is
not as large as Kurylenko's, said a source close to the film.
The Ukrainian actress joins a long list of leading ladies
to be cast alongside the super spy including Ursula Andress in
Dr No, Halle Berry, Kim Basinger and most recently Eva Green
in Casino Royale, which grossed nearly $600m in
worldwide ticket sales.
Massive exposure
In the past, being a "Bond girl" has given actresses
massive exposure and launched lucrative careers.
A former model, Kurylenko was most recently seen alongside
Timothy Olyphant in last November's Hitman.
British actor Craig made his first appearance as the secret
agent in Casino Royale and returns for this newest movie
directed by Marc Foster, better known for his widely acclaimed
dramas like Finding Neverland and The Kite Runner.
Also returning from Royale are Judi Dench as Bond's boss
M, Jeffery Wright as CIA agent Felix Leiter and Mathieu
Amarilic, currently playing in French film The Diving Bell and
the Butterfly, as the new Bond villain.