CLIVE OWEN - OWEN DENIES TURNING DOWN CRAIG'S BOND ROLE

Actor CLIVE OWEN has denied reports he turned down the role of JAMES BOND in CASINO ROYALE. Previous 007 Pierce Brosnan was subsequently replaced by Daniel Craig as the big-screen superspy, but the Children Of Men star was rumoured to have refused the part offered to him by director Martin Campbell. But Owen insists the claims were false. He says, "I didn't turn it down. I was never offered it. It was all hype. "My wanting the role was never an issue. It was all spun. By whom I have no idea." Owen, who has vocalised his support for Craig's casting as 007, believes Bond bosses made the right decision recruiting someone who didn't physically match the previous movie incartnations of the spy. He adds, "That's ridiculous. Really. That's where you will get bad James Bonds if you cast a guy who just looks right. You cast the best actor."