Ana de Armas

Blade Runner 2049

NO TIME TO DIE

‘Bond Girl’ is probably an unworthy term to describe a set of characters who have always been independent, ass-kicking women who gave as good as they got. Indeed, to this day, top actors from across the globe fight tooth and nail for this role and there are many good reasons why. Bond films never fail to impress, blending majestic cinematography with beautiful leads, luxurious interiors, and of course, the action that Britain’s most famous spy always delivers. This year, James Bond (played by Daniel Craig) will have a formidable woman by his side: Paloma, a guntoting, trailblazing CIA agent who will make 007’s mission a little easier. No Time to Die’s release date for Spain is October 1, 2021.

WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS

WHY ANA?

Ana de Armas was the ideal choice for Paloma owing to the depth of her previous roles. Paloma is powerful, but also flawed. Ana told Movie Web: “What matters most to me is representing women and female characters in an empowered, realistic, non-stereotypical way.” She loved getting into shape for the role, telling Cinema Blend: “I had gun training and learned the choreography for the scenes... It was a short but really intense immersion into the Bond universe, so I quickly transformed into a CIA agent.”

BOND FROM A FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE

Daniel Craig was certainly on her wavelength; he asked Fleabag actor and writer, Phoebe Waller-Bridge to lend the script a more feminine perspective, tweaking the storylines and dialogue between characters. Waller-Bridge is the second woman in James Bond movie history to be credited as a writer. Moreover, Paloma won’t be the only strong female character in the film. She will be joined by Nomi (the new Agent 007, played by Lashana Lynch) and Psychiatrist, Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux).

ANA AND DANIEL

No Time to Die wasn’t the first time Ana de Armas and Daniel Craig worked together. They shone in Knives Out – a mystery film that was a huge hit. It was Ana’s biggest film to date, co-starring bigwigs like Jamie Lee Curtis and Chris Evans (Captain America). Ana plays a family patriarch’s gentle nurse. Despite the chance to work alongside such renowned actors, she initially thought she would turn down the role. The script described her character as ‘Latina and pretty’, a description she didn’t find very motivating. Luckily, she wrangled a copy of the script, discovering there was much more to the character than meets the eye – and was instantly hooked.

BLADE RUNNER 2049

If Ana’s face looks familiar, it may be because she played the virtual woman who enamoured Ryan Gosling’s character in Robocop 2049. It was a challenging role, one that required her to combine the coldness of technology with the emotion of forming part of a new world order. The sparks flew with Gosling and her talent caught the eye of directors like Rian Johnson (Knives Out) and Cary Joji Fukunaga (No Time to Die). Recently, she has worked on various films – including Sergio, The Night Clerk, Deep Water, and Blonde. In the latter she plays legendary bombshell, Marilyn Monroe. Many would say she is the ideal choice; she has high doses of charisma and her facial structure is similar to that of the Some Like It Hot diva.

COPING WITH FAME

Ana de Armas has a good head on her shoulders and this can probably be attributed to the fact that she didn’t have it easy as a child. She has told the press on more than one occasion that what she earns goes towards supporting her family – a duty she has taken on with grace. Knowing how difficult it is to build a career in Hollywood and being grateful for the difference she has made in her family’s life very much keeps her feet on the ground. “Fame may be the response to my work, but I don’t focus on that result. I want to think and put my energy into the journey. I always look for normalcy in my life and that’s what makes me the happiest. Maybe that’s the reason I feel like I’ve coped so well,” she told Harper’s Bazaar.

If you’ve never seen an Ana de Armas film, I recommend starting with Knock Knock – a 2015 thriller that is funny and a little bit terrifying all at once. Ana plays one of two teens who knock on the door of a lonely millionaire (Keanu Reeves), embroiling him in a sadistic game that he is completely defenceless against. Ana may have been a little ‘green’ in the film, but her performance was a fine indicator of the depth and complexity that lies behind what Jamie Lee Curtis called “the most expressive eyes I have ever seen in my life.” e

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