Lashana Lynch Receives Online Abuse After Being Confirmed As The New 007

Lashana Lynch, who will be seen in “No Time To Die” as the first-ever Black person to play the iconic MI6 agent, has revealed that she faced a lot of online abuse ever since it was confirmed that she will be playing the next James Bond in the franchise.

Speaking in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar UK, the 32-year-old actress opened up about various aspects of the movie and explained how she was forced to delete her “social media apps” to overcome the online abuse that she endured after the trailer launch.

Lynch noted that all the outrage took place because a “Black woman” was given the opportunity to play the iconic character. The actress also revealed that she took some time off to do things that made her calm, like meditating and seeing her family.

“I am one Black woman – if it were another Black woman cast in the role, it would have been the same conversation, she would have got the same attacks, the same abuse,” Harper’s Bazaar quoted Lynch, as saying.

The “Captain Marvel” actress also admitted that she had to remind herself that she is going to be a part of something that will be “revolutionary.”

“I just have to remind myself that the conversation is happening and that I’m a part of something that will be very, very revolutionary. As I have come more into myself, I have found ways to remain respectful of others but still true to myself,” Lynch told the publication.

Talking about her character, Lynch said that she sat with writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge and told her that she wanted the character to look believable.

“A character that is too slick, a cast-iron figure? That’s completely against what I stand for. I searched for at least one moment in the script where Black audience members would nod their heads, tutting at the reality but glad to see their real-life represented,” Lynch said.

“No Time To Die” will be Daniel Craig’s last film as the legendary detective. The movie will see Bond enjoying his life in Jamaica. But his peace is short-lived when one of his friends from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be really hazardous when he meets a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.

The cast also includes Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Jeffrey Wright, Rami Malek, Ana de Armas, David Dencik, Billy Magnussen and Dali Benssalah.

The film is scheduled to hit the theaters on April 2, 2021.