'Don't call me a Bond girl...I'm a woman!' Monica Bellucci, 51, set to be oldest love interest for spy 007 since franchise began

Published: 21:34 EST, 18 September 2015 | Updated: 22:21 EST, 18 September 2015

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In a world where sexism and ageism are rife, she's pioneering a refreshing change.

Especially considering that even Bond himself, Daniel Craig, recently described his iconic character as misogynistic - it's breaking new ground that Monica Bellucci will be four years older than 007 when she makes history as the 'oldest Bond girl ever' in Spectre.

The Italian actress will turn 51 on 30th September, ahead of the highly anticipated film's release on October 26th and says she's too mature to be referred to as a 'girl'.

Bond lady: Monica Bellucci will be the oldest Bond 'girl' ever at 51 when Spectre is released next month, but says she's too mature to be called 'girl' - pictured filming in Rome in February 2015

'I can’t say I’m a Bond girl because I’m too mature to be a Bond girl. I say Bond lady; Bond woman', she told the Guardian on Thursday.

The Matrix Reloaded star added: 'I’m proud to be a Bond lady, because actually, Bond is the most amazing man. You know why? Because he doesn't exist.'

She told the newspaper that she thinks her casting as Lucia Sciarra struck a nerve because it's a shift in power from a male-dominated world.

Pucker up: The Italian beauty gets up close and personal with Bond in Spectre, as seen in the latest trailer released for the film

'The world is a man’s world', she explained to the publication, adding: 'Men have the power in everything: journalism, acting, direction; in banks, finances, schools. All the laws are made by men.

'Men think that women, when they’re not able to procreate any more, become old. That is not true – they are still amazing! That’s why I think that Sam Mendes [director of the new James Bond film, Spectre], in choosing me, an adult woman, created a big revolution.

'I don’t know Hollywood very well. I’ve never lived in Los Angeles or New York. But what I can see in Paris, where I live, is that actresses like Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Charlotte Rampling, still get the chance to play strong, sexy roles even though they’re not 20.'

Bonding experience: She stars alongside 007 as Lucia Sciarra - pictured filming in Rome in February 2015

She stars as the widow of an assassinated mafioso alongside Daniel Craig, 47, in what's rumoured to be his last outing as the British spy, and Austrian-born actor Christoph Waltz as villain Franz Oberhauser.

The Passion of Christ actress split from husband Vincent Cassell in 2013 after 14 years of marriage and the couple are parents to two daughters Deva, 11 and Leonie, 5.

The brunette beauty - who speaks four languages - also plays an actress in Canadian drama Ville-Marie, which recently premiered at the Toronto film festival.

Black widow: She stars as the widow of an assassinated mafioso alongside Daniel Craig, 47, in what's rumoured to be his last outing as the British spy - pictured filming in Rome in February 2015