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  Double-oh: Bond. Jane Bond. Who

Double-oh: Bond. Jane Bond. Who

Published : May 31, 2016, 11:53 pm IST
Updated : May 31, 2016, 11:53 pm IST

The challenges and the many questions as the world debates a female version of 007.

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 dc-Cover-8ru1rkd425i3ibhvci65rif4g6-20160529020503.Medi_.jpeg

The challenges and the many questions as the world debates a female version of 007.

The actress Gillian Anderson has made it known in an unsubtle manner that she desires to become the next person to play the fictitious British secret agent 007. Besides political correctness which demands our agreement, a woman can be just as deadly as a male spy. Myth and history both bear this out. And speaking of history, if men could play women in Shakespeare’s productions at the Globe in medieval England, it’s not asking too much of the 21st century. What would Ian Fleming make of all this, apart from turn in his grave The creators of a female version of 007 will have to contend with a few difficulties in creating the character. James Bond was born in a man’s world. In 1953, the world had grown weary of war.

The Savile Row-dressed superspy jet-setting to exotic locales, sipping only the best drinks, smoking custom-made cigarettes (Virginia Slims for her ) and bedding beautiful women was a welcome reprieve, to Britain especially where the rationing of World War II was almost at its end. The reader lived dangerously through the character and exulted in his exploits. This is a different time and the world has changed. As far as the character’s story goes, what would the female lead be — James Bond’s twin sister... his new wife And what about her code name with the double-O prefix What would be her signature drink and her preferred weapon Who would she battle, and how Who would she bed — tough guys or himbos And what would it be like to hear a villain saying, “Good-bye, Ms Bond (or Mrs)” Then there is a very real problem — Hollywood pay scales. Much has been said about unequal pay for male and female leads in tinsel town, including by some of the best-known actresses. The actor playing Bond has always commanded a premium. Will studio bosses match the pay If they don’t, there will be backlash if one goes by the great support Gillian Anderson’s comment has drawn from women. Then there will of course be an effect on writing copy. Journalists will have to substitute words like “suave” with words from the lexicon for female spies or coin new ones to avoid clichés.

Studio executives who might after all think a female Bond is a good idea will find encouragement in the fact that for the first time in its 213-year history a woman master tailor has opened shop on London’s Savile Row.