Danish-Jewish director of The Night Manager tipped for Bond
Susanne Bier, who directed BBC adaptation of John Le Carré thriller, could become first female to direct 007 film
Francine Wolfisz is the Features Editor for Jewish News.
Susanne Bier, director of the hit BBC spy drama, The Night Manager, has been tipped to become the first female director of a James Bond film.
The 55-year-old Danish-born director’s name was revealed on the shortlist to take over from Sam Mendes on the next 007 film, which marks the 25th in the franchise, according to RadioTimes.com
During an interview with Jewish News earlier this year, Bier revealed she is a fan of the spy genre, which “by its nature is super fascinating.”
She said: “I just think it’s totally intriguing. If I see a story in the newspaper about real spies, I will automatically be attracted to reading about it. I think these stories trigger something in us. It plays into our natural curiosity.”
Bier, who won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2011 for her work, In A Better World, also revealed her sense of Jewishness has added to her talents as a visual storyteller.
Speaking about her parents, who were forced to flee during the Second World War, Bier said: “My Jewishness has definitely impacted my work. Many of my previous films have dealt with the family, which is so much a part of our DNA, but so too is having a very distinct sense of catastrophe, because our history is so full of it.
“That in turn has given me a sense of urgency and that has gone into my storytelling. I think it’s actually quite visible in everything I do.”
Speculation is also growing that leading actor Tom Hiddleston, who worked with Bier on the critically-acclaimed television adaptation of John Le Carré’s thriller, could land the coveted role of James Bond.
He reportedly met with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli last month and Coral has since suspended all bets on Hiddleston landing the part.
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