James Bond: Former 007 favourite Dominic West backs transgender Bond after Daniel Craig

In just three months time Daniel Craig begins shooting his fifth and final James Bond movie. With speculation rife over his replacement, there’s much debate among fans whether 007 could go black, asian, gay, female or even transgender. Now West, who stars as Jean Valjean in the BBC’s Les Miserables this evening and once auditioned to play Bond himself, has backed the idea of a transgender person playing the next 007. Speaking with The Sunday Times, the 49-year-old said: “Maybe a transgender Bond would be cool.”

West continued: “There’s a very cool woman who’s the wife of an actor in Colette [West’s latest film], who is a captain in the electrical engineers, the highest-ranking transgender soldier in the army.”

The actor was referring to Hannah Winterbourne, who is married to transgender actor Jake Graf.

West added: “She’s a beautiful blonde girl who could be Bond, yes.

“That’s actually a brilliant idea.”

When it came to his reason, West said: “They should have a transgender Bond because there are a lot of transgender people in the army.

“They’d be ideal because they can do everything.”

Back in 2005, West auditioned to replace Pierce Brosnan as James Bond.

At the time he said: “Apparently all of the other candidates were turning up in a tux – as if dressed in full-on James Bond garb. 

“So I went to my audition in an old pair of jeans and a tatty T-shirt. I thought I’d try to be different and go for the nonchalant look.”

He added: “My audition went well, but I’ve since heard rumours that Pierce Brosnan got it.

“It’s old hat now, anyway, and besides, I’m enjoying working in the theatre.”

Of course, the actor was misinformed about Brosnan’s return as a year later Casino Royale was released starring Craig.

Les Miserables six-part series begins tonight on BBC One at 9pm.