Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke wants to play first female James Bond: ‘Hell to the yeah!’

Emilia Clarke has put herself forward to become the first female James Bond, as Daniel Craig prepares to step down from the role after 13 years.

The Game of Thrones and Last Christmas star gave an interview to Empire magazine when she was asked about whether she would be interested in playing the character.

“Yeah! Of course! Hell to the yeah!” she responded. “James Bond is one of those franchises where it’s never not cool.”

“You could literally be the naffest James Bond in the world and it would still be cool,” she added.

A number of actors have thrown their hats into the ring to become the first female Bond, including Downton Abbey’s Michelle Dockery.

Lashana Lynch is currently a strong contender, with rumours that she will be given the 007 title in the new film, No Time to Die.

The script has been co-written by Fleabag creator and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge, making her only the second woman to have ever written for the franchise.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, Craig denied claims she had been hired to improve representation behind the scenes, calling the conversation “f***ing ridiculous”.

“She’s a great writer,” he said. “Why shouldn’t we get Phoebe onto Bond?”

He also said that Waller-Bridge was hired at his suggestion, after he became a fan of Fleabag and Killing Eve, which she also wrote for.