ROMAIN DURIS - DURIS REJECTED BOND ROLE

DURIS REJECTED BOND ROLE

French actor ROMAIN DURIS turned down a dream role starring alongside DANIEL CRAIG in CASINO ROYALE - because filmmaker MARTIN CAMPBELL made him take numerous English tests. The 33-year-old auditioned for the part of the villain in the 2006 James Bond movie, but became frustrated when he realised he would have to rapidly improve his bilingual skills. He says, "I'd already done an audition and a test for my English and then they wanted yet another English test. Well, I had other things to do. I was working on Dans Paris and I didn't want to risk spoiling that. I said, 'Do I work like a madman to improve my English or do I say stop?'" But Duris does not regret turning down the role and thinks his replacement, Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, did an excellent job as bad guy Le Chiffre. He adds, "The guy they cast is very good. I know I could do it too, but I have no regrets."