5 things you didn’t know about James Bond

Unrivalled special agent, notorious womaniser and masculine icon, James Bond is, to many, the ultimate British gentleman. Since initial publication of Ian Fleming’s first novel in 1953 and the release of the debut official film in 1962, Bond has served as a worldwide inspiration in terms of lifestyle, gear and sophistication. And that isn’t something that’s going to change anytime soon.

While you might know how the nation’s super-spy likes his Martini, there are some things you might not be so familiar with. So, take a moment to acquaint yourself further with 007.

For your eyes only

One of the various spies Fleming based his protagonist on was 16th-century English polymath John Dee. Dee would sign his letters to Queen Elizabeth I with a ‘007’ glyph to signify that they were for her eyes only.

JFK

Not only was From Russia, With Love the last movie that President JFK ever saw, he was arguably responsible for Bond’s success across the pond. After naming From Russia, With Love as his favourite novel in an interview in 1961, sales rocketed and it was the next Bond film to be made.

OO7 at age 38

In the novels, James Bond became 007 at 38. Out of the various actors that have played the role, Daniel Craig is the only one to have earned his ‘00’ status at the same age.

Spectre

The title ofSpectre is an anagram for ‘Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion’.

Deadliest Bond

Pierce Brosnan was the deadliest Bond. In Goldeneye alone he ended 47 lives. In contrast, Roger Moore only does away with one person in The Man with the Golden Gun, the film with the lowest Bond kill-count.