By Thea Voutiristsas
The notoriously sexist James Bond franchise will be premiering its newest installment, Spectre, in less than two weeks. Normally, I wouldn’t care much for the gun-toting, martini-drinking, 007, but this year something is different. The latest Bond girl, Monica Bellucci, will be the oldest leading lady of the series to date. At 51, the Italian actress and fashion model is a whopping four years older than her costar, Daniel Craig. Sure, she plays a widow (because how could a woman ever reach 51 without having been married?), but at least her character will be a breath of fresh air compared to Craig’s leading ladies of the past. In Skyfall (2012), Casino Royale (2006), and Quantum of Solace (2008) his female cast-mates were an average of 10 years younger than he is.
Alongside the closing age gap, the bond films have portrayed women as the sexual predators, Bond being their prey. He is, more often than not, the one submitting to the desires of the women. Not only are the Bond women some of the first to openly like sex just as much as their men counterparts do, but they have talents outside of the bedroom. The ladies are even shown flying planes, diffusing bombs, and speaking an upwards of 10 languages. They also participate in sparkling, witty banter with Bond, making their intellect just as sexy as their outfits. Not to mention, the franchise sexualizes Bond almost as much as his costars, dressing him in teeny shorts as he emerges from the ocean, or in just a towel post-shower. How could we blame the Bond girls for falling for him after that? Surprisingly, I’m looking forward to the premier of Spectre. Maybe I will be converted to a 007 fan after all.