Scottish actor Jack Lowden has emerged as the 5/4 favourite to become the next James Bond, with bookmakers cutting his odds following comments by media figure Richard Osman. Lowden, 36, is known for his Emmy-nominated role as MI5 officer River Cartwright in Apple TV+'s Slow Horses and his breakthrough performance in Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk.
Early life and career
Lowden was born on June 2, 1990, in Chelmsford, Essex, but grew up in the village of Oxton in the Scottish Borders. He joined the Scottish Youth Theatre in Edinburgh at age 10 and later trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, graduating in 2011.
His career spans theatre, film, and television. He won the Laurence Olivier Award and the Ian Charleson Award in 2014 for his portrayal of Oswald in Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts. In 2017, he played RAF pilot Collins in Dunkirk, and has since taken roles as Morrissey in England is Mine (2017) and Siegfried Sassoon in Benediction (2021). He has received Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for Slow Horses.
Lowden co-founded the production company Arcade Pictures and produced The Outrun (2024), starring his wife Saoirse Ronan.
Current projects and personal life
Lowden is set to play Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy in a 2026 Netflix adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, opposite Emma Corrin. He is also filming Berlin Noir, an Apple TV+ series with Colin Firth.
He married Saoirse Ronan in July 2024; they met on the set of Mary Queen of Scots in 2018. The couple welcomed their first child in 2025, keeping the name and gender private. Lowden supports Scottish independence and lives in the Scottish Borders. He is a football fan of Broxburn Athletic FC.
James Bond speculation
Richard Osman suggested he has insider information that Lowden is being "strongly considered" for the 007 role. Bookmakers including William Hill cut his odds from 6/1 to 5/4. The search for Daniel Craig's replacement has been ongoing since 2021's No Time to Die. Other contenders include Callum Turner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Henry Cavill. Producers have hinted at an official reveal before the close of 2026, with Denis Villeneuve reportedly set to direct.
