(Picture: MGM/WireImage)
Ana De Armas has teased that her character in No Time To Die goes against the Bond girl stereotype and is ‘very badass’.
The 33-year-old, who stars as CIA agent Paloma in the upcoming 007 flick – out on Thursday – described Paloma as something that ‘hadn’t been seen’ yet in Bond girls, over the franchise’s 59-year span.
Talking to The Sun, Ana explained: ‘Paloma is a really complete character. She’s definitely something else that I don’t think we’ve seen in other Bond girls in previous movies. She’s a lot of fun — very active, very badass.’
The Cuban actress also praised her co-star Daniel Craig as ‘so easy’ to work with, in their second film together, as their previous friendship meant she ‘didn’t feel out of place being part of a huge production’.
The pair previously acted together as part of a starry ensemble for Rian Johnson’s entertaining whodunnit Knives Out in 2019.
Ana also credited Daniel with being ‘relentless’ in his role as James Bond.
‘It doesn’t matter how exhausted he is, or how many broken bones he has, he still shows up and goes to work every day. It’s so inspiring,’ she said.
The star, who had her big break in Hollywood with Blade Runner 2049 in 2016, also shared that her preparation for the role of Paloma was ‘not as long’ as she would have liked as she had such a short break between wrapping up on a previous project and jumping in with No Time To Die.
Revealing that is was ‘a short but really intense immersion into the Bond universe’ with no time for anything other than a few days of gun training and fight choreography, she added: ‘I quickly transformed into a CIA agent.’
In a new Bond featurette released to introduce audiences to Bond’s female allies, Paloma and 00 agent Nomi, played by Lashana Lynch, Ana also praised the ‘amazing stunt team’ for all of their help.
‘I really wanted to get it right and look like I knew what I was doing,’ she said.
Daniel, who was recently made an honorary Commander in the Royal Navy, the same rank James Bond holds, recently shared that he felt producers had ‘got the wrong guy’ when he was offered the iconic role.
At a Bafta event, he recalled telling producer Barbara Broccoli: ‘Thank you, flattering, but I think you’ve got the wrong guy.
‘Maybe you’re auditioning lots of people and you’re sort of trying to get a picture of it.’
No Time To Die is Daniel’s fifth and final outing as the legendary 007, which promises thrills on a whole new level, as well as the franchise’s longest running time.
The movie, which was delayed for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will show 007 living a blissful life beyond active service relaxing in Jamaica – that is, until old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA shows up asking for help.
The film also stars Rami Malek, Ben Whishaw, Lea Seydoux and Naomie Harris.
No Time To Die will be released in cinemas on September 30.
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