The actress says she’d rather take on the spy role herself than play a supporting character

Sydney Sweeney has declared she would rather be the next James Bond than play the franchise’s famous “Bond girl” — insisting she’d have “more fun” as 007 himself.

The White Lotus and Euphoria star, 28, made the comments in an interview with Variety, saying she has long been a fan of the British spy series and is intrigued to see what direction the next instalment will take.

“To be honest, I don’t know all the Bond rumours, but I’ve always been a huge fan of the franchise, and I’m excited and curious to see what they do with it,” she said.

When asked whether she would be interested in following in the footsteps of Bond heroines such as Halle Berry and Ursula Andress, Sweeney replied: “Depends on the script. I think I’d have more fun as James Bond.”

Her remark comes amid continued speculation over who will replace Daniel Craig, who bowed out as the iconic secret agent in No Time To Die (2021).

Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve is slated to direct the next Bond movie, which is due to begin shooting in 2027. Casting for Craig’s successor is expected to start next year, with studio insiders reportedly seeking an “unknown British male actor” in his late 20s or early 30s.

According to Deadline, producers at Amazon MGM, which took creative control of the franchise earlier this year, are determined to find an actor who embodies the physical intensity of Ian Fleming’s original character.

“Whoever it is has to look like he could kill you with his bare hands in a trice,” one source said. “From the moment you see him, that has to be readily apparent.”

While Sweeney’s name may not fit the traditional mould — Fleming described Bond as a lean, six-foot man with jet-black hair — the idea of a female 007 has been debated for years.

In 2015, then-Labour leader Ed Miliband sparked both praise and ridicule after suggesting that British actress Rosamund Pike, who appeared opposite Pierce Brosnan in Die Another Day, could take over the role, arguing that the franchise should “move with the times.”

Sweeney, born in Spokane, Washington, has rapidly become one of Hollywood’s most bankable young stars. In addition to her Emmy-nominated roles, she recently appeared in the romantic comedy Anyone But You and Marvel’s Madame Web.

Elsewhere in her Variety interview, Sweeney appeared to respond to backlash surrounding her American Eagle jeans campaign, which faced criticism online earlier this year. The advert showed the blonde-haired, blue-eyed actress alongside the tagline: “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.”

Some critics accused the campaign of evoking eugenic undertones, but Sweeney dismissed such interpretations, saying her intent was about empowerment rather than appearance.

“I’m like, ‘No, I just feel good and I’m doing it for myself and I feel strong,’” she said. “I hope that I can inspire other women to be confident and flaunt what they’ve got — because you shouldn’t have to apologise or hide or cover up in any room.”

Whether or not she gets her wish to play the world’s most famous spy, Sweeney is unlikely to be short of work. With multiple projects in development and a growing reputation for both acting and producing, her tongue-in-cheek 007 ambition may yet signal a shift in Hollywood’s conversation about who gets to hold the martini glass next.