So what is the latest Bond girl really like? We speak to Eva Green

By: Lovey

Beautiful Eva Green plays the woman who captures James Bond’s heart in Casino Royale.

The 26-year-old French beauty plays Vesper Lynd, an accountant working for the treasury who is sent to keep a close watch on the government money that Bond – played by Daniel Craig – is using in a high stakes poker game.

Eva was recruited to join the Casino Royale production relatively late, joining director Martin Campbell and his cast and crew as they were just about to start filming in The Bahamas.

Eva, who has a non identical twin sister, Joy, first discovered acting at school in Paris. Her mother, Marlene Jobert, was an actress before becoming a children’s author.

After drama school in Paris, Eva landed some stage work in France before Bernardo Bertolucci cast her in The Dreamers alongside Michael Pitt and Louis Garrel.

She then won the part of Sibylla in Ridley Scott’s epic Kingdom of Heaven, starring opposite Orlando Bloom, and will soon star in His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass, playing Serafina Pekkala, the witch.

Eva divides her time between Paris and London.

 
LOVEY: Let’s be honest honey… us girls are only going to watch this movie for Daniel Craig. I’ve not met one woman who’s been able to make head or tales of the storyline of this Casino Royale.

EVA: The story is so complex and there are so many layers – you never know who is who, who is the bad guy, it’s not black and white. It was quite difficult to understand everybody in relation to my character because there is so much sub text.

LOVEY: Considering how sexy Sean Connery is, and Pearce Brosnan is the original McDreamy… you must have watched at least one Bond movie over the years?

EVA: Oh yes, I grew up with Bond but I haven’t seen all of them. It’s entertainment and it’s so enjoyable to watch.

LOVEY: I really enjoyed this movie, but what I didn’t like was the way they tried to pass off that you are the reason Bond becomes this scoundrel later on who uses women.

EVA: This is almost the story of how Bond became Bond, if you see what I mean. Because it’s a tragic love story and after this he will become a womaniser because his heart is broken and his trust in women is completely lost.

LOVEY: So this supposed to be the key relationship that forms the man we get to know later?
EVA: Yes.

LOVEY: But I still believe, despite his womanising ways, he can be tamed. There is a woman out there who can mould and shape him into a great husband one day isn’t there.
EVA: There was On Her Majesty’s Secret Service with Diana Rigg where he is going to get married, I think. I’ve never seen that one.

LOVEY: So just so we all know and can take notes, what your character is like, this woman who manages to start a relationship with the ultimate alpha male?
EVA: Vesper is an accountant and she works for the treasury and she goes on this mission with Bond to make sure the money she is in charge of is not going to be squandered.
It’s quite funny because they are really alike, they have the same way of thinking, they are very competitive and she has a very quick wit. She is always like ‘I’ve got to have the last word!’ it’s very funny because they play all the time. I mean, they could be twins almost.

LOVEY: Yeah, but what is she like… really?
EVA: She is not really an action lady, she is more cerebral.

LOVEY: And the relationship between Vesper and Bond is very realistic. I mean, that shower scene has to be the point when Vesper really starts to fall for him. I know that’s when he would have had me. The way he comes in and comforts her, and just sits there… doesn’t make a move… just turns the hot water up… whoa!
EVA: Well, it’s a very well written script and it’s very, very clever. I mean, they are quite aggressive with each other at the beginning, in a playful way. And then they start falling in love and it’s quite intimate, tender, gentle and I think people have never seen Bond like that before, he’s so raw and fragile. I’m sure girls will like it.
LOVEY: I’m definitely sure we’ll LOVE it (panting)! Whew. There is a lot of passion between the two of them isn’t there. They have that chemistry.
EVA: Oh yes, very much.

LOVEY: Personally, I would have found it hard to keep my hands off Daniel Craig. He’s got great eyes… an amazing body… nice lips… good hair… a very sexy voice… (drifting)
EVA: Oh he’s wonderful. He is also very charming, dangerous and tender – which is quite attractive. I’ve always liked him as an actor and I think it’s such a great choice. He’s unusual for Bond I think, but he brings another dimension because he is so rough and not mannered. I love him as an actor.
LOVEY: Um… yes (waking from dream). An actor. Right. I bet you loved working those long, long hours with him… take after take… night after night… kiss after kiss (drifting again)…
EVA: Oh yes, very much. He is very supportive and he really wants to make it work and he is so involved in it. Daniel was really good, absolutely lovely.
LOVEY: He looks like he is! I couldn’t have helped but jump him. Surely you must have tried something like that?
EVA: I had to do some physical stuff! And I’m not very physical so that was very interesting (laughs). I had a lot of bruises.

LOVEY: What a job! You get to perv on Daniel Craig all day, and they fly you to all these exotic locations!
EVA: Oh yes and that’s been lovely. The Bahamas was nice, beautiful beaches, but I think my favourite was probably Lake Como. We stayed there three days and we shot the clinic scene and it was a house on a peninsula and I think it belonged to an explorer. It was so beautiful and so dream like and unreal and magical. I think they shot some of the Star Wars movie there. And I love Prague also, that was beautiful.

LOVEY: And then you also get to wear those beautiful clothes. They are just gorgeous.
EVA: Yes, and my favourite ones are the clothes that are quite reminiscent of the forties and quite cinematic in a way, like a black Gucci Mac and a hat. And a lot of suits because she’s an accountant and she’s quite uptight at the beginning. And of course she wears dresses when she is with Bond – she has some Bond moments! I don’t wear any bikinis – you don’t see me at all and that’s good, I think! (laughs)

LOVEY: You go girl!

Read our Casino Royale review