No Time to Die star Lashana Lynch subject to ‘attacks’ and ‘abuse’ over James Bond casting

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Lashana Lynch has spoken out about the “abuse” she received after she was cast in No Time to Die.

The actor plays a “female version” of 007 in the new Bond film, alongside Daniel Craig’s spy. Her character Nomi entered active duty after Bond retired following the events of Spectre.  

Talking about the criticism she received after her casting was revealed last summer, she told Harper’s Bazaar: “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.

“I just have to remind myself that the conversation is happening and that I’m a part of something that will be very, very revolutionary.”

Lynch also voiced her determination that Nomi be a character who Black audiences connect to.

“A character that is too slick, a cast-iron figure? That’s completely against what I stand for,” she said. “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.  

“In every project I am part of, no matter the budget or genre, the Black experience that I’m presenting needs to be 100 per cent authentic.”

No Time to Die will be released in April 2020, after being delayed yet again due to the coronavirus pandemic.