Wimbledon tennis legend Roger Taylor recently shared how close he came to taking over the role of James Bond from Sean Connery, a surprising turn of events ultimately influenced by his wife`s disapproval.
Taylor, originally from Sheffield and now 83, was a popular figure in British tennis, reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals three times in 1967, 1970, and 1973, long before Tim Henman captured the nation`s heart.
In his new autobiography, “The Man Who Saved Wimbledon,” he reveals that his performance in the 1967 Queen`s final attracted significant attention from Hollywood producers looking for a new 007 for the 1969 film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” Sean Connery had stepped down from the role he began in 1962.
Taylor, known for his handsome looks, 6ft height, and left-handed play, caught the eye of the wife of scriptwriter Richard Maybourne, who, according to Noel Berryman (vice-chairman of Queen’s Club), declared, “There’s your new James Bond.”
Taylor initially thought the suggestion was a prank, as he recounts in his book. His wife, Frances, also found the idea amusingly absurd. However, despite his complete lack of acting experience, Taylor was open to exploring the opportunity. He even admitted to practicing intense stares in mirrors during that first week of Wimbledon.
He attended a meeting with film financiers, which he described as rather peculiar. He was simply stared at in silence by a room full of men, some smoking large cigars. “I never even had a chance to tell them ‘I’m Bond, James Bond, don’t you know’ before the meeting ended,” he writes.
Despite the strange first encounter, Taylor was invited for a second test at Pinewood Studios. The catch? He needed to bring a swimsuit for the audition.
“At which point Frances became very irate,” Taylor states. “She’s a Scottish Baptist and clearly didn’t fancy becoming a Bond girl.”
Taylor often gets asked about missing the chance to be Bond and laughs about being called the “James Bond of tennis” back then.
The role ultimately went to Australian model George Lazenby. Years later, Taylor saw Lazenby in a California bar looking significantly worse for wear, which led Taylor to ponder if he had perhaps had a lucky escape after all.
Nevertheless, Taylor confesses that whenever he watches a Bond movie, a small part of him still wonders “what if?” He proudly notes that he did perfect the famous line, “Bond, James Bond.”
