First Black Bond Girl Speaks

[Surprize!]

Why don’t black women look natural, proud and regal like this anymore?


EXCLUSIVE: 'Miss Bond doesn't have the same ring to it!' First ever black James Bond girl who played Thumper in Diamonds Are Forever blasts casting of actress Lashana Lynch who is taking over as 007 - saying iconic code name was meant for a man

Parks says the image of her fighting a white man and kicking him in the testicles was a 'huge deal' in 1971, saying: 'Those small moments made a difference, but it has taken too long for the USA to get up to speed on inclusion'

It was bombshell news that left James Bond fans shaken and stirred - a woman will take over the famous 007 code name in the next movie.
British star Lashana Lynch will be given Bond's licence to kill in the 25th movie in the franchise, currently being shot in Italy and the UK.
It soon became clear, however, that Lynch won't actually be the new Bond, but a new character who takes over his secret agent number after he leaves MI6.

But regardless, the decision to give 007 to a woman has divided hardcore fans, and the first black Bond girl to grace the silver screen is most certainly not happy.

Trina Parks says she is against the potential plot twist - insisting the Bond movies have already done huge amounts for Hollywood diversity, she said in an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV.

Parks famously made history as the first black Bond girl appearing in Diamonds Are Forever as assassin Thumper alongside Sean Connery in 1971.

Speaking from her New York home, the 72-year-old actress said: 'Lashana is a great actress, but I don't really agree with her becoming 007. It is not about her color, but just because Bond, the spy code-named 007, was written by Ian Fleming as a man.'

Trina Parks famously made history as the first black James Bond girl appearing in Diamonds Are Forever as assassin Thumper alongside Sean Connery in 1971

This week it was revealed actress Lashana Lynch (left) will be given Bond's licence to kill in the 25th movie in the franchise, currently being shot in Italy and the UK. The 72-year-old (right) told DailyMailTV spoke out about the decision to give 007 to a woman, saying she disagreed with giving a woman the iconic code name

She continued: 'So a black James Bond sure, I don't see why that could not be a move, but as a man. Miss Bond doesn't have the same ring to it.

'I think that there are lots of movies already where you have a woman taking center stage, defeating men - and I like that.
'But I don't feel that the James Bond franchise has to go there.'

Still though, Parks praised the 'tremendous' Bond movies saying the people behind the films have always been 'innovators not followers'.
I don't feel that the James Bond franchise has to go there.

But while she is happy to see an English actress play a major role in Bond 25, she feels that the franchise should stick to its format and not go all the way by having a female Bond.

'They set a standard that has remained a classic film with a man as Bond - and that is how I think it should stay,' she added.

Earlier this year Craig insisted 'everybody should be considered' in casting as the next Bond, 'for women and for African Americans, there should be great parts anyway, across the board.'

Then he spoke of his pride of the 007 films: 'It shouldn't have to be Bond that takes up (that mantle).'

Craig's new movie will feature the most diverse cast ever with Captain Marvel's Lynch, Blade Runner 2049's Ana De Armas and Jeffrey Wright back as Felix Leiter.
Parks says that when she appeared alongside Sean Connery in 1971, Bond boss Albert 'Cubby' Broccoli never once mentioned her being black during the entire process - and even after the movie's release no-one made a big deal about it.

And she feels strongly that the modern Bond franchise - now run by Cubby's daughter Barbara and produced by British film company Eon Productions - has continued to be a trailblazer for diversity.

Speaking from her New York home, Parks said: 'Lashana is a great actress, but I don't really agree with her becoming 007. It is not about her color, but just because Bond, the spy codenamed 007, was written by Ian Fleming as a man'

Parks says the image of her fighting a white man and kicking him in the testicles was a 'huge deal' in 1971. 'Those small moments like in Diamonds Are Forever made a difference, but it has taken too long for the USA to get up to speed on inclusion,' she says
'The Bond franchise has gone out of the box with black actors and women of color more than any other franchise,' she said.

Parks added: 'Eon's outlook on life and the world has always been much broader than many of the big studios.

'In Hollywood, production executives were looking at women who were sexually attractive to their societal circles.

'Cubby was one of only a few who saw beyond that - and they could see black actresses as character actresses.

'Back then most producers just had this tunnel vision casting of hiring the same looking women. But in England people were more open to age, ethnicity and color.

'Other cultures too were included in their stories. People forget Bond married a Japanese woman in You Only Live Twice and then had me as the first black woman in the franchise in 1971.

'Now it is commonplace to see ethnicity in all the Bonds.'

Parks says the image of her fighting a white man and kicking him in the testicles was a 'huge deal' in 1971.

'Those small moments like in Diamonds Are Forever made a difference, but it has taken too long for the USA to get up to speed on inclusion,' she says.

'

 

[Surprize!]

The Bond movies really did pave the way for the millions of people who watched the films at movie theaters or on TV to see a kaleidoscope of faces, different to their own. And over time these films do make a difference.'

And she feels strongly that the modern Bond franchise - now run by Cubby's daughter Barbara and produced by British film company Eon Productions - has continued to be a trailblazer for diversity. Pictured (l-r): Trina Parks, Naomie Harris, Halle Berry and Gloria Hendry attend 'Spectre', The Black Women of Bond Tribute in 2015

Today Parks recalls her journey from the New York stage as a talented modern dancer to a Palm Springs movie set throwing martial arts moves at Sean Connery nearly 50 years ago.

The famous fight scene, where British spy Bond is battered by two martial arts loving female Spectre assassins, took two weeks to lock down on camera.

But Parks freely admits that she knew little about the 007 franchise, or Sean Connery, when she walked on set.

'I knew that Bond movies were successful, but I cannot lie I did not know who Sean Connery was. My world was Broadway and I had never seen a Bond film,' she explained.

'It never crossed my mind that I was about to make history. To me I was happy to get a job. I was happy that right after I did the film I was doing a play in New York.'

After being flown to Palm Springs, California, Parks did not have to wait too long before meeting heartthrob Connery, however.

'When I got to the hotel Sean sent me a note to meet. I remember him being groovy, warm and kind. Not once was my race brought into the conversation as he sipped coffee. He told me, ''I want to meet the person who is going to beat me up''.

'He then explained that the scene is very technical and that we would have two weeks to get it right. He was confident about it working from the start even though it was the toughest fight scene ever.'

For the next two weeks Parks worked with a stunt double for Connery, co-star Lola Larson and stunt woman Donna Garrett.

Parks recalls her journey from the New York stage as a talented modern dancer to a Palm Springs movie set throwing martial arts moves at Sean Connery nearly 50 years ago. The famous fight scene, where British spy Bond is battered by two martial arts loving female Spectre assassins, took two weeks to lock down. Pictured: Trina Parks (left) as Thumper and Lola Larson as Bambi in Diamonds Are Forever

Parks did not have to wait too long before meeting heartthrob Connery, however. She said: 'When I got to the hotel Sean sent me a note to meet. I remember him being groovy, warm and kind. He told me, ''I want to meet the person who is going to beat me up''.

Once they perfected the five minute fight scene - regarded as one of the most iconic in 007 history - Connery returned to film the real cut for a week.

'It took two weeks to meticulously build each section of that scene perfecting our moment and placements.

'There was no digital re-edit or CGI, and the camera angles had to be perfect and our acrobatics were real.

'Sean told us not to hold back and make it look as real as possible. Sure he was wearing pads, but I kicked him pretty hard in the balls and did not hesitate to go at him. The crew kept laughing as I said: ''I do not want hurt him''.

'Sean encouraged me as we did take after take of us tussling and beating him up.'

Parks continued: 'We did several retakes and all without a body double, because Sean wanted to make it look as real as possible. He never got injured which is something I am so proud of today.

'On screen it was the first time Bond had looked so vulnerable with a woman.

'It was fun to do and people still tell me that they root for us in the fight; and I cannot think that has ever happened with Bond.'

After shooting ended, Connery was whisked away to his next location and Parks returned to her New York stage career.

She did not attend the New York and LA premieres because of work commitments.

Earlier this year Daniel Craig who currently plays 007 (pictured in character) insisted 'everybody should be considered' in casting as the next Bond, 'for women and for African Americans, there should be great parts anyway, across the board'

'The film was a huge deal, because Sean was back after George Lazenby quit. But I really did not hear about me being the first black Bond girl very much.

'I didn't think much but my dancer friends were aware of the significance, I am not sure the film studio made a big deal out of it.

'But it paved the way for the next film Live And Let Die to have Bond's first black love interest Rosie Carver opposite Roger Moore.'

Parks says she still earns money from the project, almost 50 years on, she said: 'At that time it was very good money, much greater than the base SAG rate. I was very happy with the fee. And it is still nice to get a residual check a few times a year.'

Parks says she still earns money from the project, almost 50 years on, she said: 'It's still nice to get a residual check a few times a year'
And while many other female actresses have suffered 'the curse of the Bond girl' Parks revealed how Thumper gave her great global opportunities

She enjoyed a hugely successful career with TV and film credits mixed with many lead roles in plays, dance shows and club events around the world.

Parks enjoyed the celebration of her Bond performances, but always pursued her next project.

She was delighted, however, to bump into her former leading man by chance in New York 20 years after the film.

'I really did not do the Bond tours or attend Hollywood functions so I did not see Sean until 1990,' she recalls.

'I was waiting at the bus stop at Madison Avenue, when all of a sudden a crowd gathered as he and his wife headed into a boutique.
'I strolled in, tapped him on the shoulder and he smiled: ''Oh Thumper... Trina.''

'He gave me a huge hug and we just caught up a little bit about work and life. It was just nice to see him.

'I am so glad we had that moment because Diamonds Are Forever gave me the experience of working with one of the greatest actors ever in Hollywood.

'The Eon team were awesome too and I have had roles because directors have been huge Bond fans.'

She added that she would love to make a return to the next Bond movie.

'A lot of fans always ask me if I would return and I would love to return as Thumper because I wasn't killed.

'Thumper could be a trainer of the next batch of Spectre female assassins perhaps.'

Parks still attends Bond fan conventions and celebrations around the world and is penning a memoir, which she hopes to be out next year.
She has also written the Black And Brown Anthology - a historical educational production following the plight of immigrants to the US from the 18th Century to today.