20 Things You Didn’t Know About Casino Royale (2006)
3. “I’m The Money.” “Every Penny Of It.”
When principal photography began in January 2006, the crucial role of Vesper Lynd remained un-cast, despite a rigorous search for appropriate performers.
Vesper was arguably the most important female role in a Bond film since Dame Diana Rigg's Tracy Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) and, adding to the complications, the character had previously been portrayed by the original leading Bond Girl, Ursula Andress in the 1967 spoof version of Ian Fleming’s novel. Whoever portrayed her would therefore need to distinguish Vesper from the performances of both Andress and Rigg.
Many actresses were considered for the role, including Angelina Jolie, Miranda Richardson, Charlize Theron, Audrey Tatou, and Cécile de France, but had all either declined it or had been considered inappropriate.
French actress, Eva Green had also declined the part, feeling that it was underwritten and fearing what being a Bond Girl would do to her career.
However, the filmmakers were so set on hiring her (at Daniel Craig’s suggestion) that they rewrote the part to make Vesper an intellectual and spiritual equal to Double-0 Seven. Eva Green subsequently accepted the role in February 2006, well into the production schedule, which concluded in July of that year.