Tom Jones nearly played Bond ‎

[Blowfeld]

Welsh singer TOM JONES almost swapped singing for spying - movie bosses once approached him to play JAMES BOND.

The Sex Bomb hitmaker recorded the Thunderball theme in 1965, but the star almost landed the role of 007 himself.

Jones admits Bond would have been his dream role but he was ruled out of playing the super spy because he was such a famous singer.

He tells Britain's Smooth Radio, "When I was young I would have liked to be James Bond, and at one time it was discussed.

"I think it came from Cubby Broccoli, who was the man in charge, of course, and he said when my name was put forward, 'Tom Jones is so recognisable as Tom Jones - he's a character, he's become this singer with a big character. So in order for him to do James Bond, would people accept him as being James Bond? Could they get past him being Tom Jones?' - and so apparently that was what the problem was."

This story can be found at http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/st ... le_1169004

I don't recall hearing this before

[Kristatos]

I don't recall hearing this before

That's probably because Contact Music made it up, like most of their other stories. Honestly, why do people insist on linking to that site? If by some miracle, they publish a story that's actually true, it will be reported in other, reputable news sites.

[Blowfeld]

I don't recall hearing this before

That's probably because Contact Music made it up, like most of their other stories. Honestly, why do people insist on linking to that site? If by some miracle, they publish a story that's actually true, it will be reported in other, reputable news sites.

It is a true story. I used them because they had it nice and concise. Most of their stuff is accurate, althou be it regurgitated. I don't know if I'd use Contact if they were the only source.

Tom Jones was once in the running to play James Bond, but he was considered too famous for the part.

The 70-year-old has revealed it was his dream to play the suave British secret agent in a movie. The part has previously been portrayed by stars including Sir Sean Connery and Roger Moore, and Tom was hopeful he might get a turn earlier in his career.

"When I was young I would have liked to be James Bond, and at one time it was discussed," he told the Smooth Radio.

To start with fame was on the side of the singer, as he already had a reputation among women across the world as a sex symbol, much like Bond.

The producer of the movie series, Cubby Broccoli, saw his potential to play the shaken martini-loving international womaniser because of his good looks, charm and charisma.

"I think it came from Cubby Broccoli, who was the man in charge, of course, and he said when my name was put forward, 'Tom Jones is so recognisable as Tom Jones - he's a character, he's become this singer with a big character,'" Tom explained.

But in the end, Tom's growing international notoriety was to go against him.

Producers of the Bond series decided fans might not think he was believable in the part.

"'So in order for him to do James Bond, would people accept him as being James Bond?'" Tom said the producers asked. "'Could they get past him being Tom Jones?' - and so apparently that was what the problem was."

The singer, who has released a new album Praise & Blame this year, is likely to have been considered for the Bond role in the 1960s and 70s, when Sean had his tenure.

this can be found at http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/41 ... layed-Bond