“I thought I was replacing Judi Dench”… Monica Bellucci

Monica Bellucci, who has been cast alongside Daniel Craig in the latest Bond movie “Spectre”, initially believed she was auditioning to replace Judi Dench.

The 50-year-old Italian actress, who describes herself as a “Bond Woman”, said she had been summoned to meet director Sam Mendes to discuss a role in the upcoming film.

Bellucci, in an interview, disclosed she had asked Mendes whether she was being invited to play the role of M. 

“I just blurted out: I'm not a girl, I'm a woman. What am I going to do in James Bond?” she said to Mendes. 

“Mendes said, 'For the first time in history, Bond is going to have a story with a mature woman. The concept is revolutionary',” she added.

Bellucci is just four years older than Daniel Craig. Her debut in the franchise will see her eclipse the previous record for oldest Bond Girl, held by Honor Blackman in “Goldfinger”.

Source: The Telegraph