'Harry Wild' star Jane Seymour never envisioned a woman James Bond when making 'Live and Let Die'
Jane Seymour gets into the thick of dangerous crime-solving in the upcoming series "Harry Wild."
But when it comes to having a spy license to kill, the British actress says she never considered a woman playing James Bond when she starred in 1973's "Live and Let Die."
"Absolutely not," Seymour, 70, said speaking at the AMC panel during Thursday's Television Critics Association. "I was a quintessential Bond girl. You run three paces behind a man in stilettos, barely clad. And you go, 'Oh Bond!' "
Seymour starred as the psychic medium Solitaire, the love interest to Roger Moore's James Bond in "Live and Let Die," the eighth Bond film. In the nearly four decades since the film, the discussion of casting a woman as Bond — following seven male actors in the role born out of author Ian Fleming's spy novels — has emerged as a topic of debate. Lashana Lynch made Bond history in 2021's "No Time to Die" by reaching 007 spy status alongside Daniel Craig in his last role as Bond.
The famed movie spy has not been re-cast for future installments.
The women of 'No Time to Die':How Lashana Lynch, Léa Seydoux and Ana de Armas fly into Bond history
Seymour pointed out the Bond role has evolved in the decades.
"Each Bond has its own era. Mine was very much the '70s. Bond changes all the time," said Seymour. "But I think Ian Fleming did write about a man. Just saying. And there are lots of wonderfully strong, empowered women that can star in their own vehicles."
"I'm not against it," Seymour added of the possibilities of a woman taking the Bond role. "I'm not a Bond expert, I was just in one."
In the Acorn TV series, part of AMC Networks, "Harry Wild" (streaming April 4) executive producer and star Seymour portrays Harriet "Harry" Wild, a retiring university literature professor who finds a new lust for life by solving crimes, including pursuing a serial killer on a deadly spree.
Seymour loves that the part is "very much written for me, and it's the most amazing writing."
Seymour also stars on CBS's "B Positive" and is set to appear in the upcoming movie "Ruby's Choice." She is counting her blessings for the constant work.
"Usually actresses 70-plus don't work this much," said Seymour. "But I'm getting great material."
Ageism still lurks in Hollywood, according to analysis of female film characters
Where are real portrayals of women over 50 on screen? New study highlights dearth of leading roles
During Thursday's TCA's, AMC also showcased clips of the Western noir thriller series "Dark Winds," based on author Tony Hillerman's "Leaphorn & Chee" crime fiction novels.
The six-part series features Zahn McClarnon as Joe Leaphorn and Kiowa Gordon as Jim Chee, two 1970s Navajo police officers forced to challenge their own spiritual beliefs to solve a double murder case. With predominantly Native American writers and cast, the six-part "Dark Winds" promises to be a stunning showcase for "West World" star McClarnon.
Rainn Wilson, who also stars in the series, asked the virtual room of TV critics to imagine a shelf behind McClarnon.
"Now just fill that shelf with all the acting awards, 'cause that's what you're going to see in the next couple of years with Zahn's performance in this," said Wilson.
Wilson, on the other hand, plays the "epitome of corruption" as the missionary called Devoted Dan.
"Where's there's corruption to be found Devoted Dan is in the middle of it," said Wilson. "I've never played a character like Devoted Dan. And you get to see my full exposed torso when I'm wearing a pair of tidy-whities. So that's going to be worth the price of admission."
Oscar nominations 2022: 'The Power of the Dog' leads with 12, Kristen Stewart nabs first nod