- British actor Michelle Keegan and presenter Maya Jama have both become fan favourites to play the next Bond girl
- Fans will recognise Keegan from her roles in Our Girl, Fool Me Once and Brassic; whereas Jama has won their hearts as the presenter of Love Island and its spin-off show, Love Island Games
- The news comes after it was reported that Aaron Taylor-Johnson will take over the role of 007 from Daniel Craig
It’s a coveted role previously played by the likes of Eva Green, Léa Seydoux and Halle Berry.
And now two women are vying for the part of a Bond Girl in the newest installments of the franchise.
According to reports, British actor Michelle Keegan and presenter Maya Jama are both in the running to play the glamorous sidekick to 007 in the next movie.
Bookies have revealed that the odds of Keegan starring as Bond’s companion have been slashed to 4-5, after she expressed her desire to take on the job.
The actor, 36, has most recently featured as the lead role of Maya Stern in the Netflix hit Fool Me Once. From humble beginnings on the long-running British soap opera, Coronation Street, fans may also recognise Keegan from her parts in the BBC dramas Our Girl and Ten Pound Poms, ITV’s Tina and Bobby, and Sky One’s comedy-drama Brassic.
Also hoping to score the part is Jama, 29, who has built a profile for herself in the US thanks to her role as presenter of Love Island.
The DJ – who rekindled her relationship with acclaimed British crime artist Stormzy last August – took over the role from Irish host Laura Whitmore in 2023, and has gone on to front the global spin-off show, Love Island Games.
Just as Keegan’s odds have reduced, Jama’s have suddenly halved to 5-1.
John Hill, a representative for UK betting shop Coral, revealed, “Many punters believe Michelle Keegan will join Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the next Bond film as the female lead.
“She is now odds-on in our betting to be involved. But we have also seen some outside support for Maya Jama. The Love Island presenter has had her odds slashed in half to be the female lead.”
If they’re successful, one of the women will star opposite actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
The Marvel actor, 33, has reportedly fought off stiff competition from the likes of Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy and Henry Cavill for the role of 007.
And despite recently trying to shut the rumors down – claiming in a recent interview with Rolling Stone, “I don’t feel like I need to have a future drawn out for me. I feel like, whatever’s drawn out for me, I can f***ing do better” – Taylor-Johnson’s deal is almost sealed after “endless discussions” with studio execs.
According to insiders, producer Barbara Broccoli is not said to be considering anyone else, and costume fittings for Taylor-Johnson are apparently already underway.
“It is all in the details and agents and lawyers are going through all the red tape and how many movies Aaron will sign up for,” an insider revealed. “It is currently looking to be a three-picture deal with the option of a fourth. They have done all the fittings, they have the haircut they have in mind for him, and he’s already in tremendous shape.”
It’s also said that the producers will make a “huge deal” out of the announcement, and are reportedly planning an event with the remaining living Bonds to hand over the role – including George Lazenby, 84, Timothy Dalton, 78, Pierce Brosnan, 70, and Daniel Craig, 56.
Craig stepped down from his time as 007 in the 2021 movie No Time to Die, after first bursting onto our screens in 2006’s Casino Royale.
