FOR HIS EYES ONLY

Daniel Craig weighs in on debate for next 007

Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman? Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig has called for roles “just as good as James Bond” for women and actors of colour.

The 53-year-old star is to play 007 for a final time in forthcoming film No Time

To Die, but he has shot down suggestions that a woman could take over from him, as he believes “better parts” should be created for actresses instead.

When asked if he would support a more “diverse” appointment as his replacement, he replied: “The answer to that is very simple. There should simply be better parts for women and actors of colour.

“Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?”

Craig also admitted he hasn’t felt objectified after a memorable scene in 2006 movie Casino Royale — his first outing as the spy — when Bond emerged from the sea wearing a tiny pair of blue trunks.

The star admitted he in fact chose the swimming attire because he wanted a similar shock reaction to the famous scene in which Ursula Andress emerged from the sea wearing a white bikini in her role as Honey Ryder in the 1962 Bond film Dr. No. Speaking to Radio Times magazine, Craig added: “I’m OK with it. I knew what I was doing. They showed me some shorts, some swim trunks, and I went, ‘Those’. Because of Ursula Andress, and because of that look, I wanted to flip it on its head.”