Casting Update

6th October 2011

French actress Berenice Marlohe, who was last week rumoured for a Bond Girl role in Bond 23, has apparently locked the part for Daniel Craig's third outing as 007 after a successful screentest at Pinewood Studios. The actress is currently making the transition from television to film, and is just wrapping up filming on "Un bonheur n'arrive jamais seul" with director James Huth.

Award-winning British actress Helen McCrory, best known to movie-goers for her role as Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter series, has also reportedly secured a role. The 43 year-old actress has worked with Craig three times before: "Hotel Splendide" (2000), "Enduring Love" (2004) and "Flashbacks of a Fool" (2008). There is no word on the nature of her character.

Above: Actresses Berenice Marlohe (left) and Helen McCrory (right)

The news comes via usually reliable showbiz column by Baz Maigoye, in the otherwise usually untrustworthy Daily Mail newspaper. Marlohe is now understood to be the lead female foil in the 23rd James Bond film, after director Sam Mendes has finalised his cast.

Other cast members are said to include Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris. Dame Judi Dench and Rory Kinnear are set to reprise their roles as M and Tanner respectively. Simon Russell Beale may no longer be a part of the film due to scheduling conflicts with his role in John Hodge's play 'Collaborators' for the National Theatre.