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James Bond Actors | Best Bond?

Connery or Moore? Brosnan or Craig? Swayed by the brutish sex appeal of Craig? Consider yourself a rare Dalton fan? And what about that other guy? Or even those other two guys? Add your argument to the ones below and participate in our ongoing poll. We're looking for you to tell us who your TWO favorite Bond actors are. We'll let the statistics sort it out. Have a simple rant? Leave a comment.

May the best Bond win!


A Quick Review of the candidates

Sean Connery


Who is the best Bond? - James Bond
Who is the best Bond? - James Bond
Who is the best Bond? - James Bond
Case for:
  • The first - defined Bond a generation
  • Athletic, rugged, handsome, deadpan, sex appeal - the complete package
  • A tough guy, with refinement. Connery learned his lessons from Terence Young well, and made an archetypal character--smart, relaxed, smooth
  • The 'Alpha Wolf'--did it first, did it best--everybody else has to catch him.
  • WON!the James Bond Wiki Tournament! (3 of the 4 remaining films in the Semi-Finals, were Connery's)

Case Against:
  • This is tough. He did come back for that unofficial Bond remake of Thunderball - Never Say Never Again. It wasn't bad though.
  • Portrayal of Bond as a womanizer somewhat stigmatized the characer.
  • Couldn't compete against all the spectacle and gadgetry, and became sort of lost in the chaos starting with Thunderball
  • Rarely smiled in the absence of the Bond girl.
  • Was not Ian Fleming's first choice for Bond (it was Cary Grant).


George Lazenby


Who is the best Bond? - James Bond
Who is the best Bond? - James Bond
Who is the best Bond? - James Bond
Case for:
  • A few great one-liners
  • The closing scene of On Her Majesty's Secret Service - maybe George can act!
  • Faithful representation of the Bond based on the novels.
  • Portrayed Bond as sensitive and emotionally charged.
  • Did the action scenes and the "This Service owes her a debt" and "...those girls" scenes impeccably, but that's about it...
  • Created a more dark side to Bond; Dalton followed in these steps in later years, as did Craig.
  • Took on one of the hardest roles emotionally i.e. the death of Tracy, getting married, and Tracy being captured after becoming lost in an avalanche.

Case Against:
  • One hit wonder
  • Model turned actor
  • Blowing a huge opportunity by behaving like a recalcitrant tosser
  • "Wooden" performance, saved by extensive dubbing throughout
  • The one-liners should be credited to the writers, not the actor.


Roger Moore


Who is the best Bond? - James Bond
Who is the best Bond? - James Bond
Who is the best Bond? - James Bond
Case For:
  • He Was The Funny Bond
  • Successfully updated Connery's sexual wit and innuendo without being condescending to women. Made Bond assessable to a wider audience. Can you imagine if Connery's "man talk" comments and smacking women on the bum was still par for the character?
  • Portrayed Bond as a softer, wittier character. Added depth to the character.
  • Roger did his best acting in bond films
  • He turned bond into a kid friendly movie

Case Against:
  • Following Connery is no easy feat....
  • Fashion: did Moore get saddled with the most depressing era of men's attire of 20th century?
  • Masculinity: Did you ever once real feel like Moore could kick anyone's ass? Seriously, would Pussy Galore have rolled in the hay (yes, literally) with Roger Moore?
  • Didn't really seem to dig the chicks much.
  • Was the funny Bond.


Timothy Dalton


Who is the best Bond? - James Bond
Who is the best Bond? - James Bond
Who is the best Bond? - James Bond
Case For:
  • He was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Academy.
  • Reinterpreted Bond as a cynical, angry character. Gave Bond an edge and a dark side.
  • Only actor who seems to have actually read Fleming
  • Attempted more of his stunts than previous actors
  • His Bond set the stage for the darker, more serious Bond performances of Brosnan and Craig
  • Insisted on cutting innumerable "one-liners" from scripts

Case Against:
  • The end of the cold war and AIDS did not give a womanizing secret agent much of a chance...
  • Lacked some of the compassion of other portrayals that made Bond a more three-dimensional character. Closer to Fleming's Bond, but way short on the emotional mark.
  • The bad luck Bond. After about 5 different offers, Dalton finally agreed. He was slated for an additional movie, but after a 5 year lawsuit, he dropped his contract. After Bond he made several appearances on the Lifetime channel.Insisted on cutting innumerable "one-liners" from scripts


Pierce Brosnan


Who is the best Bond? - James Bond
Who is the best Bond? - James Bond
Who is the best Bond? - James Bond
Case For:
  • The guy can wear a suit, i.e. modern sex appeal.
  • Is anyone old enough to remember Remmington Steele?
  • The most well-rounded Bond portrayal: Witty, charismatic, reflective of Fleming's original character, and believable ass kicker.
  • Rejuvenated the series and made Bond "matter" again.
  • Deep acting when he assassinates Electra King.

Case Against:
  • Unlike the other portrayals, contributed nothing to the mythos of "Bond".
  • Perhaps in an effort to "butch" Brosnan up, kept putting him through interminable fire-fights with automatic weapons *Yawn*.


Daniel Craig


Who is the best Bond? - James Bond

Who is the best Bond? - James Bond

Who is the best Bond? - James Bond

Case For:
  • Masculinity: Craig's brooding thug looks allow you to imagine that he's actually capable or hurting someone - how refreshing.
  • Stoic, introverted portrayal of Bond very similar to Fleming's
  • Takes Bond away from the "pretty boy" stereotype that was destroying the character
  • Craig can actually do most of his own stunts while still portraying Bond as vulnerable and "human"- tough to pull off!
  • Taking the role much more seriously than an "actor"--seems to be more of a participant in the production

Case Against:
  • Range? Does Craig have it to be an enduring leading man?
  • Positions Bond solidly within the "action hero" stereotype.
  • Bond as the muscle-bound ass-kicker. Lack of subtlety.




NOW VOTE!