Multiple dashing actors have been on her majesty's secret service in the 007 movie franchise, but what's the character actually supposed to look like? When one pictures James Bond, the superspy with a license to kill, who they see quite likely depends on the Bond actor they grew up with. For some, Sean Connery will always be the definitive James Bond onscreen, and for others it's his successor Roger Moore, while for younger generations the honor sometime goes to Pierce Brosnan or Daniel Craig. There's also the outlier who prefers Timothy Dalton, although George Lazenby's one-movie stint precludes him a bit.
There's two things all the movie Bonds have had in common so far, at least by the standards of their time: being handsome and looking good in a suit. The accents of Bond actors have varied pretty wildly, although a non-European still has yet to play the character. unless one counts the early adaptation of Casino Royale made for 1954 TV, which is extremely obscure and featured an American actor playing Bond.
It's important to remember though that James Bond began in books, and author Ian Fleming had a specific look in mind for his creation. Which actor most lived up to that look? Well, none of them really.
What James Bond Is Supposed To Look Like (According To 007's Creator)
Ian Fleming, as referenced in several of the James Bond books, pictured 007 as resembling Hoagy Carmichael. If that name doesn't ring a bell, Carmichael was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. Carmichael was active on the music scene from the 1910s all the way until his death in 1981. Among Carmichael's accomplishments are composing the music for the immortal song Georgia On My Mind, and winning an Oscar for Best Original Song in 1951. While it's a bit funny that Fleming pictured his quintessentially British character looking like an American, Carmichael certainly had striking features.
That said, looking at Daniel Craig and all the prior James Bond actors, none of them really resemble Carmichael to any noticeable degree. If one was pressed to choose a closest match, it would probably be Lazenby, but even then it's hardly a case of twins. One wonders why Bond movie producers have never attempted to try and emulate the look Fleming intended for 007, although the actor after Craig may well be closer in appearance. If they really want to get him close to Carmichael though, perhaps Bond should begin to sing and play piano in Bond 26, proving that he has a license to thrill as well.
