Taron Egerton: 'I’d like to play 007 – but I’d be a very boyish Bond'

The 27-year-old actor thinks he's too young to step into Daniel Craig's shoes 
Jennifer Ruby25 January 2017
The Weekender

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Taron Egerton says he would love to step into Daniel Craig’s tuxedo and become the next James Bond — but he needs a bit more “wear” in his face first.

The actor has already played a spy in Kingsman: The Secret Service and will reprise his role in sequel Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

Craig, 48, has said he would “rather slash my wrists” than appear in another Bond film — but that he reserved “the right to change my mind”.

Egerton is among a host of British stars who have been touted as possible replacements, including Tom Hardy, Idris Elba and Aidan Turner.

But at 27, the Welshman believes he is too fresh-faced for the part. “I think most people would love to do it but I expect I need a little bit more wear in my face before I do that,” he said.

“I’d be a very boyish Bond, wouldn’t I? So there’s certainly no truth to that at the moment.”

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His current role is a world away from Bond — he plays a gorilla in animation Sing, which also stars Scarlett Johansson, Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon.

He said: “I genuinely promise and swear on anything the singing was all me. And the same goes for everyone. I think that’s why they cast people who could sing.”

He added: “It’s been an ambition of mine before I even wanted to act to be involved in animation. I used to draw and make plastic figurines and watch Wallace and Gromit films. So to be part of an animated film like this is really a dream of mine.”

He said he would love to have a career similar to that of Hugh Jackman, his co-star in Eddie The Eagle. “He is very much an actor and singer,” he said. “I’d love it if people thought of me like that. I love singing as much as I love acting.”

Sing is released in cinemas nationwide on January 27.

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