Trina Parks, who starred alongside Sean Connery as the dangerous villain “Thumper” in the 1971 Bond film Diamonds are Forever, says that a black woman starring as 007 just does not work.
“Lashana is a great actress, but I don’t really agree with her becoming 007,” Parks said. “It is not about her color, but just because Bond, the spy code-named 007, was written by Ian Fleming as a man. So a black James Bond sure, I don’t see why that could not be a move, but as a man. Miss Bond doesn’t have the same ring to it.”
Controversy sparked after Lashana Lynch was tapped to star as the next Agent 007, the special agent designation that James Bond has always held. However, Lynch will not star in the next Bond film as Bond. She will only be given Bond’s 007 designation. Bond will still be portrayed by Daniel Craig.
But the announcement that the James Bond film series is going with a female 007 has split fans, with some all-in for the new female spy and others leery of the change. Parks is in the latter camp.