James Bond news: Gemma Arterton ‘I would pass on being a Bond girl, if I was asked today’

Back in 2008, Craig’s second outing saw the British actress play an MI6 agent who is seduced by Bond.

Quantum of Solace is generally considered by 007 fans to be one of the weaker entries in the franchise, as a tail-end direct sequel to Casino Royale that was written during the famous writers’ strike.

At just 21-years-old, Arterton bagged the role of Strawberry Fields, one of two Bond girls in the movie, alongside Olga Kurylenko’s Camille Montes.

During a recent interview with ES Magazine, the actress – who isn’t particularly fond of her early career – insisted that she wouldn’t take the role if offered today and wasn’t exactly rushing to praise Quantum of Solace.

She said: “I don’t want to slag off that film, because I really enjoyed it – I was 21, and it was a trip.

“But would I do it now? No.”

Speaking about her early career, Arterton said: “Coming from a working-class background — we were poor — then going to a drama school where they tell you, and rightly so, that you’re probably not going to work most of the time, and suddenly being given all these opportunities when I left.”

Despite Arterton’s reservations, this week multiple sources claimed Craig had just about been persuaded to return for a fifth Bond outing.

The actress added: “For the first seven or eight years of my career, I was doing stuff because I thought I should, or I thought I was lucky to get that part. 

“And I am grateful — it set me up… But it sits really badly with me when I make something I’m not proud of, or doesn’t say what I want to say.”