Ranking of James Bond Actors

      As we await the announcement of the next James Bond, here’s a ranking of all seven — or should we say 007 — actors who have portrayed the iconic character, from Daniel Craig to Sean Connery and David Niven.

      Since his debut on the big screen in 1960’s Dr. No, Bond has been a lasting cinematic figure — a character who evolves with the times yet remains fundamentally unchanged. Therefore, the actors taking on this role must possess a timeless quality while still embodying the spirit of their respective eras.

      With that in mind, let’s rank all the 007 actors, from the least impressive to the best.

      Barry Nelson (Honorable Mention)

      CBS. Public Domain.

      If you’re wondering, “Barry who?”, it’s time to recognize Barry Nelson as the first actor to portray Bond onscreen. He appeared in a 1954 episode of the lesser-known series Climax in an episode titled “Casino Royale,” which also happened to be the very first 007 novel by Ian Fleming.

      Nelson was the first and only American to take on the Bond role and never did so in a theatrical film. However, we include him here because there’s always someone in the comments reminding us that Nelson, not Sean Connery, is technically the initial Bond.

      So, we mention him here honorably.

      Number 7: David Niven

      Barbara Bouchet and David Niven in Casino Royale. Columbia.

      Does David Niven truly belong among the James Bond actors? Many would argue against it, which is why he finds himself at the bottom of our list. The debonair actor was Ian Fleming’s first pick to portray Bond before that privilege was awarded to Sean Connery (or Barry Nelson if considering television).

      Niven ultimately played Bond just once in the 1967 film Casino Royale, a spy spoof loosely based on Ian Fleming’s work. If you don’t regard a film that satirizes Bond films as a genuine Bond film, you likely don’t see Niven as a valid 007.

      Casino Royale was confusingly released in the same year as Connery's fifth Bond film, You Only Live Twice, leading to a unique scenario in 1967 where two different actors played Bond.

      Moreover, Casino Royale features the notion of multiple Bonds, and it’s also important to note that the 1967 version bears almost no resemblance to the 2006 Casino Royale featuring Daniel Craig or the 1954 televised version with Barry Nelson.

      The film notably includes several stars who appeared in other Bond movies, including Dr. No actress Ursula Andress.

      Alongside Connery, Niven is the only actor to portray Bond in a movie not produced by EON Productions, but more on that later.

      Number 6: George Lazenby

      George Lazenby and Diana Rigg in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. United Artists

      Lazenby portrayed arguably the most tragic version of Bond — his sole outing as 007 in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service culminates in his marriage to the captivating Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo (Diana Rigg), only for her to be murdered in a drive-by shooting by Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Telly Savalas).

      As the first EON Bond after Sean Connery, Lazenby handled the pressure admirably. Luckily for him, Niven’s portrayal had already opened the audience’s minds to the idea of multiple actors stepping into the 007 shoes.

      Interestingly, Lazenby was also the only Australian to play Bond, although another could emerge in the near future if Jacob Elordi's supporters have their way.

      Number 5: Daniel Craig

      (L-R) Lashana Lynch, Daniel Craig, and Léa Seydoux attend the World Premiere of “NO TIME TO DIE” at the Royal Albert Hall on September 28, 2021 in London. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images for EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Universal Pictures)

      We place Craig — the latest actor to embody Bond — in the fifth position. While he was undoubtedly the fittest Bond, earning points for that, the decision to adopt a darker, grittier tone in 2006’s Casino Royale came at the expense of some of the charm and campiness that characterized earlier Bond films.

      Despite Craig’s talent — highlighted in 2004's Layer Cake, which significantly contributed to his casting as Bond — he was the only actor who seemed rather unhappy in the role.

      If there’s one quality we associate with Bond, it’s his ability to find humor in life and death. In our view, removing that trait from Craig’s interpretation was an oversight.

      Number 4: Roger Moore

      Actors Barbara Bach and Roger Moore, stars of the James Bond film 'The Spy Who Loved Me', sitting on the now-famous “amphibious” Lotus Esprit at Pinewood House, UK, 1977. (Photo by Fox