Lashana Lynch confirms that she's the next 007

After more than a year of speculation, it's been confirmed that Lashana Lynch's character in the upcoming James Bond film will take over Bond's license to kill as the newest "00" agent. The British actress stars as Nomi in the latest Bond installment, No Time to Die.Lynch shared the exciting news in an interview with Harper's Bazaar U.K. earlier this week and opened up about her experience becoming the franchises' first female 007. Harper's Bazaar notes that the actress accepted the mission to become the secret agent "who inherits the 007 title while Bond himself is in exile."Lynch admitted that she had reservations about taking the role when it was first presented to her because she didn't want to get "lost behind the man" but after speaking with producer Barbara Broccoli and the director Cary Joji Fukunaga she decided to become Nomi."A character that is too slick, a cast-iron figure? That’s completely against what I stand for," said Lynch. "I didn’t want to waste an opportunity when it came to what Nomi might represent. I searched for at least one moment in the script where Black audience members would nod their heads, tutting at the reality but glad to see their real-life represented." Lynch added that with every project she's part of she needs to make sure that the Black experience she's presenting is "100 per cent authentic."The Captain Marvel actress explained that this role gives her a chance to challenge the "toxic masculinity" that's been present in a lot of action movies including the Bond franchise. "I feel very grateful that I get to challenge those narratives,” she said. “That’s happening because women are being open, demanding and vocal, and calling out misbehaviour as soon as we see it.”[video_embed id='5565324724001']RELATED: Inside Details of Daniel Craig's New 'James Bond 25' Plot Twist[/video_embed]When news of Lynch's casting leaked last April, she said she received "an onslaught of outrage" resulting in her deleting her social media accounts, only seeing her family members and meditating. The actress knew that the backlash was not uniquely personal and the aggressive comments came from the fact that a Black woman would be inheriting the 007 title. "I am one Black woman–if it were another Black woman cast in the role, it would have been the same conversation, she would have got the same attacks, the same abuse." Lynch added that she had to remind herself that she's part of "something that will be very, very revolutionary."Lynch shared her Harper's Bazaar cover on Instagram and said she is so proud to be on the front cover of the Women of the Year December issue, adding, "so that a little me can see it in a shop, on a coffee table, or even a bathroom to give them what I needed in that moment years ago. Here's to you, little Queen."

 

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In my ballet lessons, all the girls were white and blonde and, with my cainrows and beads with the foil shining at the tip, I stretched my neck to stand as tall as I was taught to at home. The old, white teacher never gave me the attention everyone else received, which I found odd; even at that age. I knew my worth, because it was instilled in me. But this woman was blind to it. Having good posture in ballet class meant erasing my big backside, which is impossible. She never believed I could stand tall, because to her my backside was in the way of becoming great. The teacher gave up on me. And as soon as I felt that, I told my parents I won’t be going back to the place that didn’t like my backside. Around the same time, I’d found myself spending way too much time sitting in my parents friends bathroom. She had all the Black magazines in there with Black women on the cover. Piece by piece, my backside, my height, my skin, my hair, it all began to make sense. After being neglected in one white space, so many pennies dropped in that bathroom, just by seeing someone who looked like me on the cover. And now, I guess all of those pennies match the amount of pixels it took to present this image to you today. Thank you, @bazaaruk, for allowing me to chose my friend, @yrsadaleyward to interview me and write this beautiful article. Two British Jamaicans collaborating on this was the best thing ever! I’m so proud to be on the front cover of Harper’s Bazaar’s Women of the Year December issue, so that a little me can see it in a shop, on a coffee table, or even a bathroom to give them what I needed in that moment years ago. Here's to you, little Queen.

A post shared by Lashana Lynch (@lashanalynch) on Nov 4, 2020 at 4:35am PST

The most recent action-packed trailer for No Time To Die features Nomi embarking on her mission alongside Bond. "I met your new double-0. She's a disarming young woman," Daniel Crag's character says of Nomi. No Time To Die was originally set to be released in November 2019, but the date was first pushed to February 2020, followed by April 2020 due to the departure of original director Danny Boyle. In March 2020 it was announced that the 25th Bond film wouldn't be released until November 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic but last month a new premiere date of April 2, 2021 was set.Here's to hoping there are no more setbacks because we're ready to see Lynch shine in her role as Nomi.

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