Ben Whishaw opened up about his final performance, as Q in No Time To Die, which saw Bond be killed off at the end of the film.
The award-winning actor is no stranger to playing iconic roles. As well as voicing the nation’s favourite marmalade-eating bear Paddington, he also starred as Q in the last three James Bond movies.
Ahead of the release of his new film Passages, Ben, 42, spoke to the Radio Times about how playing Q has affected his life and what he thinks of bringing Bond back after Daniel Craig exited the role in No Time To Die.
He explained during the interview that he was only contracted to star in three films which he did alongside Daniel Craig.
This lead to the question of how they could possibly bring Bond back now that he has been killed off.
Ben, however, had his own theory for this musing: “How many films have they made – 25 or something? I think they have to keep renewing it if they want to keep going!”
The Bristol-born star took over the role of Q (which stands for Quartermaster) from Welsh-born Desmond Llewelyn.
When asked whether playing Q has changed his life, Ben claims that no one recognises him when he’s out and about saying: “I go on the Tube in London. I go on the bus. No one stops me. So it doesn’t affect my life really.”
However, he went on to explain that he does have moments when he thinks, “Oh God, I’m in these films,” when it comes to going to red-carpet events and film festivals.
He was also asked about the third instalment of Paddington, which is currently in production and also stars Hugh Grant, 62, and Hugh Bonneville, 59.
He told how children are unaware that he’s the voice of Paddington and shared his pride at being part of such an “amazing thing”.
Going on to comment about the third film, he said: ”And it does feel right somehow that there should be a trilogy. It’s just a good number!”
And it’s by chance that Ben starred in Paddington at all. The role was initially set to be voiced by Colin Firth but he dropped out at the last minute after deciding that his voice just didn’t fit the part of the bear.
Ben has also opened up about working with the late Queen on a sketch designed for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations in 2022 that saw the late monarch enjoying a cup of tea and a marmalade sandwich with the Peruvian bear.
He told the Express.co.uk: “I thought it was wonderful.
“I thought it was very funny, very nicely written and most of all I thought the Queen did a brilliant job of acting with nothing.”
Read the full interview in this week’s Radio Times – out now
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