In a recent interview with Vanity Fair that reexamined many of her most iconic characters, actress Halle Berry recently discussed why she took the role of Bond girl Jinx in the 2002 film Die Another Day opposite Pierce Brosnan.
One of the largest elements of the James Bond franchise is the Bond girl. These girls are usually beautiful set pieces who either betray Bond, die, or vanish at the movie's end. Berry, however, decided to take a new perspective on the Bond girl when she was approached for Die Another Day, saying:
“I was really excited about Bond because that’s a franchise that’s iconic. It’s a part of film history, really, so to be a part of that franchise was very meaningful to me. And this version of a Bond woman was very different than any Bond woman I had seen before. When Barbara Broccoli came to me with the role, she explained that I would get to be a different kind - a new kind - of Bond girl. Which would allow me to be more active and sort of be… working alongside Bond in a new way, and that really excited me.”
“But also it excited me too to reimagine that great Ursula Anders scene that was so iconic… in a new way and pay homage to who she was and what this series was really all about.”
While other actresses such as Salma Hayek, Saffron Burrows, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor were approached for the role of Jinx, Berry’s performance was able to bring one last Brosnan-era Bond girl to life before the franchise shifted to a new 007, as Daniel Craig took on the role for 2006's Casino Royale.
Berry is a talented actress with many accolades to her name, including her recent feature directorial debut Bruised for Netflix, which led to her signing a multi-film deal with the streamer to star in and produce more projects. But her Jinx will ultimately stand the test of time when it comes to the legacy of the Bond Girl. Check out Berry's full interview with Vanity Fair below: