From Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, how James Bond went from sexist womaniser to pop culture icon

When Connery was first cast as Bond, Ian Fleming disapproved of the burly Scot; yet his replacement George Lazenby only lasted one film despite performing well

Roger Moore was 46 when he took over the role, which he retained for more than a decade; Craig’s funny asides and sardonic wit have broadened the character

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Daniel Craig as James Bond in a scene from No Time to Die, which is released this week.

Published: 6:45pm, 28 Sep 2021Updated: 1:08pm, 5 Oct 2021

Since the publication of Casino Royale in 1952, Ian Fleming’s James Bond has been the quintessential secret agent, a suave and sophisticated government operative who travelled the globe dispatching supervillains while sipping vodka martinis and wooing exotic beauties.

Six actors have played 007 on screen in 25 official feature films, and ever since his first appearance in 1962, Bond has been locked in a battle between staying true to Fleming’s original vision of the hard-drinking, womanising gentleman spy and addressing our evolving attitudes towards depictions of sex and violence on screen.

With this week’s release of the much delayed No Time to Die, the fifth and final outing as 007 of Daniel Craig, we look back at how the character has changed since making his big- screen debut.

Sean Connery (1962-1967, 1971, 1983)

It’s hard to imagine that when Sean Connery was first cast as Bond, Fleming disapproved of the burly Scot.

In his novels, the author likened Bond to American songwriter Hoagy Carmichael, and wanted David Niven for the role (he would ultimately play the part in the unofficial 1967 film Casino Royale).

But from his very first scene in Dr. No, nonchalantly lighting a cigarette as he uttered the immortal words “Bond, James Bond” to the howls of Monty Norman’s iconic theme, Connery and the character became one.