Ana de Armas: From Bond Girl to John Wick Spinoff Lead

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Prior to the debut of her movie “Ballerina,” a spinoff from the “John Wick” series, actress Ana de Armas is reminiscing about another significant film franchise she was part of. In the 2021 film “No Time to Die,” she portrayed Bond Girl Paloma.

As a film enthusiast, I can honestly say that stepping into the shoes of Paloma was nothing short of magical and an absolute pleasure. This character holds a special place in my heart as one of my favorites from all my past roles. She has proven to be exceptionally unique and memorable. Moreover, working alongside my incredible co-star was truly a delightful experience that I will cherish forever. In fact, this collaboration has inspired me to become an advocate for increasing the representation of Latinas in action films, as I believe we have so much to offer to the world of cinema.

Ana de Armas gained widespread recognition in 2019, portraying Marta Cabrera in “Knives Out,” which also featured Daniel Craig. After working together on this film, Craig decided to step away from the Bond franchise. Speaking about her experience, de Armas shared, “Working with Daniel was a delight. He’s an excellent partner on set. He’s a fantastic actor, full of fun and humor. I auditioned for ‘Knives Out,’ and fortunately, things worked out. However, the Bond connection wasn’t due to our prior collaboration; it was just a wonderful coincidence that it happened.

The last James Bond movie starring Daniel Craig as 007, played by De Armas, will be the one produced under the Broccolis (Albert R., Michael G., or Barbara) in the James Bond series, following the news from earlier this year about changes in production.

In 2024, when a new chapter was approaching for the Bond franchise, Armas had earlier expressed her thoughts on its direction. She stated, “There’s no need for a female Bond. Instead of imitating someone else’s character, I’d prefer to see more nuanced portrayals of women in these films.” She added, “Though Bond will remain male, I hope the female characters are developed differently and given more depth.

De Armas Will Now Lead the First John Wick Spin-Off

Despite the fact that her days as a James Bond character may be over, Ana de Armas’ future continues to shine brightly: she is set to star in the first standalone film of the highly successful John Wick series. In this action-packed story, which falls between John Wick Chapter 3 and 4, she will share the screen with Gabriel Byrne, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Norman Reedus.

Although Raquel de Armas hadn’t been part of the primary Keanu Reeves series before, she had collaborated with him in the past, dating back to 2015’s “Knock Knock”. Recently, she shared her experiences working with Reeves on various projects. “I’ve worked with Keanu three times so far, and ‘Ballerina’ was unique because it involved me joining his realm,” she explained. “I admire and value Keanu as an artist, individual, and friend; he is a powerful presence on set and always polite.

Ballerina will hit theaters on June 6, 2025.

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2025-05-04 20:28