British actor Theo James has said he is “too old” to be the next James Bond, and admitted he fears becoming too famous for his own liking.
The White Lotus star, 41, is one of several actors thought to be in the running to replace Daniel Craig in the role. Other British stars tipped as possible successors include Callum Turner and Idris Elba. But fan favourite Theo has ruled himself out, arguing he was well past his prime to take on such a role.
Too Old for 007
In a new interview with British GQ, Theo insisted: “I’m definitely too old, for one. But, yeah, that would be a place you could never come back from.”
James is currently starring in Guy Ritchie’s action-comedy The Gentlemen on Netflix, taking on the role of Edward Horniman, better known as "Eddie". But while he continues on his A-list career, he claimed he is wary of accepting roles that would bring him too much fame.
Fame and Family Concerns
He said: "Imagine, suddenly, you and I cannot walk down the street. What that does to your children, who are trying to find themselves in the midst of hyper-scrutiny and fame. None of that, to me, is worth it. It’s very intoxicating, being offered some huge, sexy part that would change your life forever. But it really wouldn’t ultimately be worth it."
After shooting to fame as part of the Divergent film series in 2014, Theo confessed he was shocked at how fast his fans had grown to be obsessed with him, and even admitted that some fans still stop him in the street.
Dealing with Fame and Parenting
As the years have gone on, Theo has slowly learned how to deal with these interactions with fans, saying he now really leans into it. “It’s funny with selfies," he recalled, "when I was younger, I used to be really allergic to them. So I used to say no − but the problem with saying no, I found, is that it elongates the moment. Obviously, it’s very nice, and you want to service someone who is invested in any way."
However, Theo added he was left shocked at how in the public he still is. Meanwhile, he is continuing to build his life with loving wife Ruth Kearney and their two children. Theo said he is still getting to grips with being a parent, particularly in the age of social media. While his kids are still too young to have their own accounts, he revealed he is finding the entire idea "complex and nerve-wracking".
