Hannah Waddingham says no female Bond, calls for women roles

Actress Hannah Waddingham has firmly rejected the idea of a female James Bond, stating women have "other things to do" and should create original, powerful characters. The "Ted Lasso" star made the comments while promoting her new Prime Video series, "Ride or Die," which premieres on July 15.

Speaking at a special screening for the series in London on June 22, Waddingham was asked if she would consider playing the iconic spy. "No! God no! No, this is my version of 007. A woman doesn't need to play James Bond. We've got other things to do," she said. She elaborated that her focus is on portraying complex women on their own merit, rather than taking over a role traditionally held by men.

Waddingham explained her attraction to playing strong female characters lies in their internal lives. "It's their truth, it's who they are in the quiet, that's what gets me first," she said. She added that her "interest is piqued by who they are when they're alone, and the foibles and the fears and the aspirations they have when they're alone."

In "Ride or Die," Waddingham embodies this philosophy by playing Judith Burton, a woman living a double life as an assassin whose world unravels when her...