Vesper Lynd was in love with James Bond, as she embezzled money to save his life, and even sacrificed her own in Casino Royale, to spare his.
Daniel Craig is behind five of the latest releases from the James Bond franchise. Craig has portrayed Agent 007 since 2006, since the release of Casino Royale.
His last James Bond film was in 2021, titled No Time To Die, which marked the end to his contract, as producers look for a new James Bond.
Casino Royale was released as the origin story, which aimed to explain how James Bond came to be the unemotional playboy, 007. The film shares the story of his first love, fellow 00 Agent Vesper Lyndy, and how their relationship met its end.
What is Casino Royale about?
Casino Royale was the first of the series of James Bond novels that were written by acclaimed author, Ian Fleming. The book was written in 1953, and the film adaptation was released in 2006.
The premise of both adaptations reads, “After earning 00 status and a licence to kill, secret agent James Bond sets out on his first mission as 007. Bond must defeat a private banker funding terrorists in a high-stakes game of poker at Casino Royale, Montenegro.”
The film starred Dame Judi Dench, as she reprised her role as M, Daniel Craig, who was portraying James Bond for the first time and Eva Green as the Bond girl.
Was Vesper in love with Bond?
If you focus on the fact that Vesper Lynd betrayed James Bond when she embezzled money for the Quantum henchmen, then you might not believe that she was in love with him.
However, that is just one instance and the motivation thereof was to try and save Bond’s life. Moreover, there are more instances that affirm that Vesper loved Bond, more than the examples that claim that she did not.
First, she was willing to leave her life behind by absconding for a new life in Venice with Bond. Thereafter, she embezzled the money for the Quantum henchmen, as they had threatened Bond’s life.
Lastly, in the film, when she realised that Bond was attempting to break her out of the lift that was raoidly filling with water, she resigned herself to death by showing Bond that he could leave her to drown in the lift and save himself.
Why did Vesper betray Bond?
The matter of Vesper betraying Bond is based on perception. This is as she only followed the orders of the Quantum henchmen in order to save Bond and set out to have a life outside of being spies in Venice. However, when she realised that it was not possible, in the book Vesper killed herself.
Her suicide in the book happens before she and Bond had the chance to reconcile as they did in the film, which aimed to highlight the shame that Vesper felt for “betraying” her love interest.
Who is Vesper Lynd?
Vesper Lynd was a HM Treasury liaison officer and is regarded as James Bond’s first love interest in Ian Fleming’s novel Casino Royale. The first person to play Vesper in a James Bond film was French actress Eva Green.
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However, a fun fact is that Ursula Andress is technically the first recorded Bond Girl, after she featured in a James Bond parody in 1967, but not before she played Honey Ryder in 1962’s James Bond’s Dr. No, giving rise to the signature Bond Girl running out of the water with a bikini sequence.
Who are the new Bond Girls?
Before the release of the last Bond film, No Time To Die, there was a recorded total of 75 Bond Girls in history.
However, following the last film that sees Daniel Craig as 007, as news reports confirm the franchise is looking for a new 007, who will also possibly be of colour, No Time To Die introduced three new Bond Girls.
The first is Ana de Armas, who played Paloma, Léa Seydoux, who played Madeleine and Lashana Lynch as Nomi. Naomie Harris also returned to her role as Moneypenny. The three new additions increase the number to 78.
Conclusion
Daniel Craig marked his last film as James Bond, with the 2021 released film, No Time To Die. The film marked his fifth film in the title role, with a fifteen-year tenure as 007, after his first film, Casino Royale was released in 2006.
Coincidentally, the last film serves as a full-circle moment. This is as Casino Royale was his origin story, that depicted how he met his first love, Vesper Green, who broke his heart.
No Time To Die, in a way, sees James Bond come out of retirement after giving up on life as a spy.