Interview with George Lazenby on the role of James Bond from the BBC Archive

By: Anders Frejdh

Published:
2025-03-01

Interview with actor George Lazenby from the BBC Archive originally broadcast on BBC One on 4th February 1970, seven weeks after On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) premiered at cinemas.

Since taking over the role of James Bond from Sean Connery, the novice Australian actor George Lazenby - to this point best known as the star of Fry's Chocolate Cream advertisements - has been given a rough time by the British Press. Critics have savaged his performance as Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, while the tabloids have been filled with backstage tales of on set fallings out with his co-star Diana Rigg, director Peter Hunt, and the film crew. Lazenby has also been excluded from the publicity tour for the film, allegedly because he grew a beard and refused to shave it off.

In spite of all this, the film has been a box-office hit, and outside of Britain, Lazenby's reviews have been generally favourable.

How much of what has been written about him is true? How difficult was it to take on a role that is so thoroughly associated with another actor? What does he think about James Bond? BBC Nationwide's very own James Bond, Bob Langley, sits down with Lazenby to find out.

Watch a clip from the 1970 BBC One interview with George Lazenby:

Clip taken from Nationwide, originally broadcast on BBC One, 4 February, 1970.

For more information about Australian actor George Lazenby, visit the official website.

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#george_lazenby

#interviews

#on_her_majestys_secret_service

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Interview with George Lazenby on the role of James Bond from the BBC Archive

Watch a clip from the 1970 BBC One interview with George Lazenby:

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