Debbie McWilliams, Ex-007 Casting Director, Sticks to Her Guns
Variety • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Debbie McWilliams, casting director for the last 14 James Bond films, maintains that Bond should remain a white male as originally written by Ian Fleming, despite never having read the Bond novels herself.
- McWilliams expressed skepticism about changing Bond’s identity, stating the character must embody traits like the ability to "pick a gun up and shoot you," and noted that casting choices vary with different directors and producers.
- She recounted the challenging casting process for Daniel Craig in "Casino Royale," highlighting initial reluctance from both Craig and the filmmakers, as well as resistance to Eva Green’s casting as Vesper Lynd.
- McWilliams emphasized that casting decisions rely on the film script rather than the original books, noting that Bond films often diverge significantly from Fleming’s novels.
- Reflecting on her broader casting experience, McWilliams shared insights on Method acting and revealed that she gave Daniel Day-Lewis his break in "My Beautiful Laundrette," although Gary Oldman was her first choice for that role.
