DR MADELEINE SWANN

Lea Seydoux’s Madeleine (below) is the first significant Bond Girl (or as they prefer to be known now, woman) ever to return for a second film. Bond and Madeleine became close after Madeleine’s father, the assassin Mr White, asked Bond to look out for her. He was given a lethal dose of poison after he left the SPECTRE organisation because he disagreed with them trafficking sex slaves.

In the last film

Spectre we saw that Madeleine – smartandhandy with a weapon – was more than a match for Bond.

After Metoo, men who discard their lovers after they’ve enjoyed them, like previous Bonds, are no longer in fashion. At its heart No Time To Die is a love story, but one that goes awry. ‘At the end of Spectre we think they’re united,’ says French actress Lea. ‘But we find out they have problems to solve. He’s hurting from Vesper Lynd’s betrayal, but Madeleine is a real love. The film is a love story and that makes it quite modern.’

In No Time To Die we delve into Madeleine’s upbringing. ‘It helps us understand her,’ says Lea. ‘In Spectre she was harder to relate to, she a mystery, but now she’s more open vulnerable.’