There is a misconception that being a "Bond girl" is simply being an accessory to a film that highlights the strengths and skills of British secret service agent James Bond.
However, Monica Bellucci and Lea Seydoux, who are both Bond girls in the latest film "James Bond: Spectre" starring Daniel Craig are far from being mere accessories.
Seydoux plays Bond's newest love interest Madeline, who is the daughter of an assassin. The actress believes that she is a pretty important character in the film because she highlights Bond's softer side.
"I like her because she is a very independent (woman). She is a strong character. She has a job. She knows how to protect herself. That is why she can connect with Bond because in a way they can understand each other, you know, and so she is a great character. I was very proud when I got the part," Seydoux told Screen Rant.
As for Bellucci, she plays Lucia, "an Italian widow with secrets." Bellucci initially thought that she was too old to play a Bond girl at 50 years old, but director Sam Mendes' vision for her character actually fits the movie perfectly.
"Lucia comes from a world where men have the only power. She actually tries to escape from this situation, and she needs Bond. Madeleine, she is the modernity of the future, so it is beautiful to see the evolution actually," she said.
Whereas Madeline is a strong character, Bellucci notes that Lucia is a bit weak in comparison. "She has some weakness, because even though she is older, she is less independent than Madeleine. It's like she has to learn how to get free, but Madeleine she knows how to get free. So, it is beautiful to see how women have to change. Actually it is a beautiful message to women I think," added Bellucci.
Both actresses consider themselves lucky to have such interesting roles in a Bond film, but Bellucci said that people should not be so quick to dismiss the roles of previous Bond girls.
"I actually respect so much of what the Bond girls have done because in a way all of them have created different strong images of femininity I think," she defended. "If I think about... Famke Janssen or Rosamund Pike or Halle Berry or Eva Green or Sophie Marceau - all of them in a different way created strong Bond girls."
