Key Takeaways
- Ranking Overview: All actors who portrayed James Bond are evaluated from “worst” to best.
- Personal Favorites: The rankings reflect personal opinions influenced by nostalgia and critical analysis.
- Selection Criteria: Factors include tenure, audience reception, cultural impact, and box office performance.
- Notable Exclusions: Actors like David Niven and Barry Nelson are not included as they did not portray official EON Bond.
Here on JoBlo, home of James Bond Revisited, the time has come to do the impossible! We’re going to rank all of the actors who played legendary secret agent James Bond from “worst” to best. It’s our way of celebrating James Bond day, with this the 64th anniversary of Dr. No’s theatrical release!
Now, bear in mind, none of the actors who ever played 007 were actually bad. In my opinion they’re all varying degrees of good. Of course, for me, being a huge James Bond fan, this list is deeply personal. Nostalgically, Roger Moore would top my list. But, analytically, I’m not so sure the same can be said. I had to take a lot of things into account for this list: length of tenure as 007, critical and fan reaction, impact on the pop culture, popularity at the box office and more.
I didn’t rank folks like David Niven or Barry Nelson, who never played the official EON James Bond, so the rankings were chosen from Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. One thing I noticed was that the James Bond’s chosen by EON were all pretty-much spot on. Even the much-maligned George Lazenby is quite good in his one and only entry as James Bond. So join us for JAMES BOND ACTORS RANKED as we count down the best 007’s and let us know your opinion below!
Here we go – from WORST TO BEST:
| Rank | Actor | Bond Films | Bond Era | Defining Traits | Best Film |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | George Lazenby | 1 | 1969 | Physical presence, vulnerable Bond, underrated performance | On Her Majesty’s Secret Service |
| 5 | Pierce Brosnan | 4 | 1995–2002 | Suave, slick, balanced Connery/Moore energy | GoldenEye |
| 4 | Roger Moore | 7 | 1973–1985 | Charming, witty, paternal, comedic Bond | The Spy Who Loved Me |
| 3 | Timothy Dalton | 2 | 1987–1989 | Dark, Fleming-accurate, ruthless | Licence to Kill |
| 2 | Daniel Craig | 5 | 2006–2021 | Emotional realism, physicality, intensity | Casino Royale |
| 1 | Sean Connery | 7* | 1962–1983 | Definitive Bond, suave masculinity, iconic screen presence | Goldfinger |
*Includes the unofficial Never Say Never Again.
George Lazenby
- Bond films: 1
- Era: 1969
- Debut film: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
- Strengths: Athletic presence, strong fight scenes, believable vulnerability
<liWeaknesses: Limited experience, uneven chemistry with co-stars
<liMost memorable trait: The only one-film official Bond
<liLegacy: Starred in one of the franchise’s most acclaimed films despite a short tenure.
If we’re starting off on the worst side of the James Bond scale, we have to start with none other than George Lazenby. An Australian model, he was plucked from obscurity to star as James Bond. George Lazenby kind of sabotaged his career a little bit by badmouthing the film to the press and being incredibly difficult to work with. This ended up being a one-and-done role for him. He was apparently offered Diamonds Are Forever and turned it down; however UA president David Picker always said that Lazenby was actually not offered a second film and that the idea was always to go back to Sean Connery to reprise the role. Whatever the case may be, Lazenby actually is not disastrous in the lead. And it’s funny because all of the actors that played James Bond are really good—they’re all just varying degrees of good. I would say good to great. And Lazenby is really good at times in the film. It has to be said—1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is probably the best James Bond movie ever made; it just happens to star arguably the worst James Bond.
Lazenby looks really good in this movie. He’s tall and looks good in his tuxedo; although some of his clothing—such as the little orange number that he wears for a lot of the film—is a touch garish. I think I heard rumors that the costume designers of this film weren’t big fans of his and kind of made him look stupid at times. He’s tall and imposing; he fights extremely well and looks great in all the fight scenes. That’s actually what apparently won him the part. His chemistry with Diana Rigg isn’t great; this is probably his biggest liability in performance because you can tell that he and Diana Rigg probably just didn’t get along very well off camera. They have no chemistry which is kind of a problem because it’s James Bond falling in love for the first time with the woman that he’s going to marry. Still it kind of works although you can also really tell that Lazenby is hampered by being dubbed for a good chunk of the film. George Baker loops his voice while Lazenby masquerades as James Bond playing Hilary Bray. I don’t know why they decided to do this; I think it was a really bad idea and totally messes with his performance.
Lazenby isn’t amazing as 007 in this movie but he’s fine. He’s arguably just as good as Sean Connery was in Dr. No . So who knows? If Lazenby had been able to play the character for five or six movies he might have ended up as the greatest James Bond of all time. But alas we’ve only got one movie and it’s pretty good film so Lazenby is definitely considered the worst James Bond in that he’s had least effect on pop culture but you know what? He’s still pretty good.
Pierce Brosnan
- Bond films: 4
- Era: 1995–2002
- Debut film: GoldenEye
- Strengths: Classic Bond charisma, polished style balanced humor and toughness
- Weaknesses: Inconsistent film quality after GoldenEye
- Most memorable trait: Combined swagger of Connery with Moore’s wit
- Legacy: Helped revive Bond after six-year hiatus in 1990s
This brings us to a controversial choice—the second-worst James Bond of all time has got to be Pierce Brosnan. No no no—now hear me out! I love Pierce Brosnan! I think he’s an amazing actor and actually think he’s a great James Bond! If you look at Pierce Brosnan in GoldenEye , wow—he’s amazing! I remember seeing this movie and being so excited for a run of Pierce Brosnan James Bond movies! Physically he was perfect for role! He looked great; he was handsome bastard looked awesome in tuxedo moved really well in fight scenes had great chemistry with all his leading ladies kind of had this perfect amount toughness cold-bloodedness as James Bond mixed with sly sense humor! He was like Sean Connery and Roger Moore being put into blender out comes Pierce Brosnan! If all movies had been as good as GoldenEye , again he’s another one that might have been best James Bond ever!
The movies that followed GoldenEye , just do not do him any favors! Tomorrow Never Dies , is fun but it’s just a bunch non-stop action scenes! The World Is Not Enough , gives him better material but its direction is very lackluster by Michael Apted has one worst villains franchise—Robert Carlyle’s Renard! Of course I do love Sophie Marceau’s Elektra King she has really good chemistry with Brosnan but they ruin it by bringing Denise Richards as Dr Christmas Jones! It’s movie that could have been one really good James Bond films but just ends up not being very good at all! And then there’s Die Another Day , which I think everybody agrees is worst James Bond movie ever!
I feel really bad for Pierce Brosnan because he got totally screwed! The material that he was given just was no good after GoldenEye . So that leaves him unfortunately as second-worst James Bond of all time.
Roger Moore
- Bond films: 7
- Era: 1973–1985
- Debut film: Live and Let Die
- Strengths: Humor charm effortless likability
- Weaknesses: Some films leaned too comedic or campy
- Most memorable trait: The most lighthearted Bond
- Legacy: Defined Bond for entire generation remains nostalgic favorite many fans
The next actor on our list is Roger Moore who played James Bond in seven films! I have to say he is my nostalgic emotional favorite! Really there is no competition for me! If you were to ask me who my favorite James Bond is it’s definitely Roger Moore! I grew up watching his movies as kid love him especially Octopussy , and A View to a Kill!. Here’s thing though—if I’m looking at critically analytically can’t say Roger Moore is best James Bond! And can’t even say that James Bond movies absolutely love him amazing films! It’s nostalgia! And totally blinded by nostalgia! Grew up with him just think he’s best! But as James bond kind middle ground! Think looks really good but man first couple movies rough!
Live and Let Die , I think most overrated James bond movie ever! I know lot people really love this film—I don’t think works at all! The Man with Golden Gun , second-worst James bond film all time after Die Another Day!, but digress! His character—his “James bond-ness”—in this movie just awful! I mean plays him like such ass! In fact rooting Francisco Scaramanga kind win towards end movie! Really hate when roughing up girls don’t like pushing kid water Thailand! Of course Roger Moore himself also said probably worst bond movie hated doing scene particular! The guy ended up becoming one people ran UNICEF years later so you can tell why probably didn’t like that film very much!
The guy really did start come into own though when did The Spy Who Loved Me!, adopting more genial witty likable persona which plays well him especially like Roger Moore started mature roles around time got For Your Eyes Only!, wasn’t so quick jump bed girls little more mature world-weary—he’d seen it all almost paternal vibe times which probably why liked him so much—you know always looked at kind pseudo-father figure some ways which definitely not how felt about any other bond except Roger Moore think probably why my favorite!
This said he’s middle section ranked if again scientifically.
Timothy Dalton
- Bond films: 2
- Era: 1987–1989
- Debut film:The Living Daylights
- Strengths : Intensity emotional realism loyalty Ian Fleming characterization
- Weaknesses : Less commercially embraced during original run
- Most memorable trait : Darkest pre-Craig bond
- Legacy : Widely reassessed ahead time
-
Film :
5 -
Era :
2006–2021 -
Debut Film :
Casino Royale
-
Strengths :
Physicality emotional depth dramatic credibility -
Weaknesses :
Uneven sequels following Casino Royale Skyfall -
Most memorable trait :
Humanized bond more than any previous actor -
Legacy :
Reinvented franchise modern audiences
Nearing top tier we’re getting closer best-ever bonds third-best bond ever my opinion definitely Timothy Dalton now lot people would probably rank bottom list but they totally wrong Timothy Dalton run bonds better anybody else only two them man they were two great bond movies there was The Living Daylights,andLicence To Kill, both just about perfect bond films.
The Living Daylights, totally departs formula kind rougher tougher ’80s-style action movie but really does feel like bond throughout whole movie so cool plop bond kind Miami Vice-style universe liked thought again Timothy Dalton does really good job playing kind sadistic cruel streak bond also still making likable palatable there great scene, where uses harpoon kill guy just killed Frank McRae Sharky apparently work print movie there scene Timothy Dalton cackles maniacally doing which think probably would been too much but Dalton didn’t care if didn’t like him wanted play bond authentic Ian Fleming-esque way think really did succeed unfortunately audiences 1980s weren’t ready interested kind bond accustomed Roger Moore wanted lighter loved Pierce Brosnan even though Brosnan movies weren’t best probably still highest-grossing bonds time so Timothy Dalton got short end stick unfortunately think had come along years later appetite would been much better fact what Daniel Craig acclaimed what Dalton criticized.
Daniel Craig
This brings us second-best actor time probably Daniel Craig now hit-or-miss bond—not movies great—it weird because odd-numbered bonds are really good.
Who played james bond longest?
Roger moore appeared seven official eon bond films between 1973 1985 making longest-running official james bond actor (although if talking years rather than count daniel craig around longer).
Which james bond actor made most money box office?
Daniel craig starred highest-grossing era franchise thanks largely success skyfall casino royale.
Which james bond actor closest ian fleming’s original version?
Many fans consider timothy dalton closest interpretation ian fleming’s literary bond because colder more ruthless characterization.
What considered best james bond movie?
Common picks include goldfinger casino royale on her majesty’s secret service.
Why george lazenby controversial bond?
George lazenby only played bond once lack acting experience combined behind-the-scenes conflicts made tenure divisive over time however many fans reevaluated performance positively.
Which bond actor funniest?
Roger moore generally regarded funniest most comedic interpretation james bond.
Did sean connery return bond after leaving role?
Yes after leaving official eon series sean connery returned unofficial bond film never say never again 1983.
So those are my rankings all james bond actors course i’m sure everybody’s got their own order so please let me know talkbacks what you think.
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