Source: Australian Daily Telegraph
Date: August 5, 2005

YET another Australian is being mooted as the next James Bond. But this time, it’s for real.

Alex O’Lachlan is one of four actors who auditioned for cinema’s best known role in England last month.

“I’m spinning out of my brain about it,” the 28-year-old star of Oyster Farmer told The Daily Telegraph.

“I flew to London, stayed on Piccadilly and was looked after beautifully.

“[I was] fitted out at Hugo Boss for a tuxedo, had my hair cut and filmed two scenes.”

O’Lachlan was up against ER’s Goran Visnjic, Henry Cavill and Scotsman Ewan Stewart, 47.

They filmed a series of screen tests at the famed Pinewood Studios for Martin Campbell, who directed GoldenEye and will helm the next film, Casino Royale.

Australians Eric Bana, Hugh Jackman and Nip/Tuck star Julian McMahon had previously been mentioned as possible contenders for the role, although only McMahon was seriously approached.

“Picture it. Picture it!” O’Lachlan laughed.

“It’s James Bond, need I say any more?”

“The reality is I may not get the role, which is the conundrum for all actors, but at the end of the day, I’m incredibly grateful just to be considered.

“People’s ears prick up and they do take me a lot more seriously here now.”

O’Lachlan expects to hear the final decision within the next 20 days.

Producers of the Bond franchise are looking for a relatively unknown actor who can take over the role from Pierce Brosnan.

Ioan Gruffudd, who played Horatio Hornblower, was favourite for the role until he took a part in Fantastic Four.