Roger Moore criticised for 'racist' comments about Idris Elba's chances of taking over role of James Bond
Roger Moore, who portrayed James Bond in seven films, insisted he had said nothing racist about fellow British actor Idris Elba - tipped to play the superspy next - in a French magazine interview.
Roger Moore, who portrayed James Bond in seven films, insisted he had said nothing racist about fellow British actor Idris Elba - tipped to play the superspy next - in a French magazine interview.
The 87-year-old, who played the suave British agent from 1973 to 1985, insisted his meaning had been lost in translation.
"An interview I gave to implies I said something racist about Idris Elba. That is simply untrue," Moore wrote on Twitter, using the hashtag "Lost in translation".
He added: "When a journalist asks if 'Bond should be English' and you agree, then quotes you saying it about Idris Elba it's out of context."
Reproductions of the interview have led to Moore being blasted by Twitter users.
In a translation of the quotes printed in French in , Moore told the magazine: "Though James has been played by a Scot, a Welshman, an Irishman, I think he should be English-English. It's nonetheless an interesting idea, but unrealistic.
"Some years ago, I said that Cuba Gooding Jr would make an excellent Bond but it was a joke!"
Benjamin Locoge, of 's culture section, said the recording of the conversation "backs up that Roger Moore's words have been faithfully transcribed".
"The journalist [who conducted the interview] is certain about the term 'English-English'; he said it like that, it's on the tape," he added.
"Roger Moore implies that it would be difficult to have a black James Bond in the sense that one cannot imagine General de Gaulle being played by a black actor and James Brown by a white [actor].
"One should not interpret his words as racist and the Twittersphere has without doubt got carried away a bit too hastily."
Elba, 42, is from east London and was born to a Sierra Leonean father and a Ghanaian mother. His most famous film role to date is that of former South African president Nelson Mandela in .
British bookmakers across the board have Elba as their clear favourite to be the next Bond after Craig, who has held the role for 10 years. William Hill price Elba at 2/1, followed by Tom Hardy at 9/2, Henry Cavill at 6/1, Michael Fassbender at 13/2.
