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'I went along for a laugh': Naomie Harris didn't think she'd land James Bond Moneypenny role because she was 'too old'

Published: 03:18 EST, 20 October 2015 | Updated: 04:52 EST, 20 October 2015

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She's received wide-spread acclaim for bringing the character of Moneypenny into the modern world.

But when Naomie Harris was asked about how she went about pursuing the role in Sam Mendes' first Bond outing, Skyfall, she revealed she never thought she'd get it as she was 'too old'.

Speaking of her mentality towards landing the role, the 39-year-old actress explained she never thought she was in with a chance, saying: 'I went along for a laugh. I never thought I’d get it.'

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'I went along for a laugh. I never thought I’d get it': When Naomie Harris was asked about how she went about pursuing the role in Sam Mendes' first Bond outing, Skyfall, she revealed she never thought she had a chance

Talking to the Radio Times about her experience as MI6's trusty Moneypenny, Naomie said that she never thought she'd land a role in a Bond film - let alone her coveted role.

Having been cast by Danny Boyle as Elizabeth Lavenza in his Frankenstein production, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, the actress was actually spotted and asked by Mendes to audition.

But while the pull of Bond was too much, the actress explained her defeatist attitude towards landing a role, saying: 'Bond girls have always been in their 20s, so I thought I was too old and I didn’t think I had the right…assets!'

'Bond girls have always been in their 20s, so I thought I was too old': Talking to the Radio Times about her experience as MI6's trusty Moneypenny, Naomie revealed that she never thought she'd land a role in a Bond

And while she was eventually handed the role of Eve - later revealed to be Moneypenny - in 2012's Skyfall after three auditions, she explained that she was unable to tell anyone - bar her mother.

Although she has carried this talent for secrecy through to the promotional lead-up to Spectre, the Pirates Of The Caribbean star revealed her character will - perhaps - play her biggest role yet.

Starting off as M's very proper secretary in the days of Sean Connery, Naomie explained that in James Bond's 24th cinema outing Moneypenny is 'the only person Bond can trust'.

'The only person Bond can trust': The London-born actress revealed that following M's death at the end of Skyfall, Daniel Craig's Bond only trusts Moneypenny - with the ex-field agent becoming his only confidant

Following the tragic death of the last M in a run-down chapel at the Skyfall estate, Bond's whole world has been flung into chaos - and there is only one person he confides in.

'She’s the only person Bond can trust. In Spectre, Bond is on a mission but we don’t know who’s sanctioned it. He may have gone rogue,' she explained.

Elaborating on the relationship, she said: 'Everyone thinks he has lost his mind because of M dying. Moneypenny is the only one he can confide in about the true nature of his mission and she helps him.'

'He may have gone rogue': The star revealed a tantalising hint of what fans can expect from Spectre

But while Naomie may have taken on a more office based role for Spectre, she's adamant that her character isn't just a glorified personal assistant.

Speaking to the MailOnline a few weeks ago, the Cambridge-educated star revealed that while her level of training for stunts had dropped off following her action-packed adventures in Skyfall - she was still ready for action.

Quizzed on the level of training she had to go through for Spectre, she replied: 'Not as much as I did in Skyfall, there wasn't all the stunt driving and gun training, none of that really.

'[Director] Sam [Mendes] actually did ask if I wanted to go on a typing course and I said, "No! Thank you very much! I think I've got that one."

'Moneypenney has moved to behind the desk, that was her decision at the end of Skyfall but who knows what's going to happen during the course of Spectre, I couldn't possibly say!'

However while fans are desperate for details on Spectre's plot, Naomie and her co-star Daniel Craig are keeping firmly quiet, saying that people will have to wait for October 26th to find out all.

To read Naomie's in-depth interview on her role as Moneypenny in Spectre pick up a copy of this week's Radio Times, on sale from Tuesday October 20th.