James Bond: Strictly Come Dancing star REJECTED Bond Girl role – and hints she regrets it

All fifteen contestants on the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing have now been revealed, and one in particular was very nearly a 007 star.

It’s Anneka Rice – now 60 – who revealed that, when she was in her twenties, she was offered the opportunity to join the cast of one of the movies.

While she was keen to play a spy and have an action-focussed part, she had no interest in simply being a throwaway character 007 would make love to.

“Cubby Broccoli called me in for the audition when I was in my twenties and I didn’t know it was to be a Bond girl,” Rice told Lorraine back in June.

“I thought it was to be James Bond, possibly! Or certainly a spy.

“So when he said ‘Bond girl’ I said ‘I don’t want to be a Bond girl’.

“I really was such a feminist. I don’t want to be there just to have sex with James Bond! Sorry!

“I’m very happy to hang out of a helicopter and kill some people and have a gun… abseil down…! So we just parted company.”

Hinting at a tinge of regret over her decision, she added: ”Now I look back and think, ‘oh for God’s sake, you could have been a Bond girl!’”

As it stands, the 25th film in the franchise – still untitled – is out next year, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge has been drafted in, reportedly to make sure the script treats its female characters with more respect.

Part of that has seemingly included making Lashana Lynch’s character Bond’s successor in the 007 job.

According to purported leaks, the film will begin with Bond in retirement, and he’ll discover that Lynch’s Nomi is his successor at work.

Other female stars include Naomie Harris returning as Moneypenny, Lea Seydoux reprising the role of Dr Madeleine Swann, and Ana de Armas joining as Paloma.

Meanwhile, Rice is joined by a wealth of stars when Strictly returns to BBC One next month.

Among them are RuPaul’s Drag Race favourite Michelle Visage, BBC Breakfast’s Mike Bushell, EastEnders’ Emma Barton, football legend David James and many more.

Bond 25 is out on April 3, 2020 in the UK.