'You can't call us girls': No Time To Die's Naomie Harris hits back at the term Bond Girl as she says the female characters are 'formidable women'

Naomie Harris has hit out at the term Bond Girl, saying the female characters in No Time To Die are 'formidable women'.

Speaking to The Mirror on Friday, the Moonlight star, 44, admitted that she felt it was inappropriate to use as the women in the latest James Bond blockbuster are 'fully fleshed-out' characters unlike their earlier counterparts.

Naomie, who has starred alongside Daniel Craig as Moneypenny since 2012's Skyfall, said: 'You can’t call us girls. We are truly women. 

'You can't call us girls': No Time To Die's Naomie Harris hit back at the term Bond Girl on Friday as she said the female characters are 'formidable women' in the film

'You can't call us girls': No Time To Die's Naomie Harris hit back at the term Bond Girl on Friday as she said the female characters are 'formidable women' in the film

'I look at the older Bond movies, and the term girl is probably appropriate because they aren’t fully fleshed-out characters. 

'But, particularly in No Time to Die, they are formidable women driving the plot forward.'

Naomie went on to say she takes pride in the roles she picks for herself, so she doesn't want to be belittled for being 'a woman, or as a Black woman'. 

Time to evolve: Naomie (pictured with Lashana Lynch and Ben Whishaw) said the women in the latest Bond blockbuster are 'fully fleshed-out' characters unlike those in older Bond movies

Time to evolve: Naomie (pictured with Lashana Lynch and Ben Whishaw) said the women in the latest Bond blockbuster are 'fully fleshed-out' characters unlike those in older Bond movies

The release of the No Time To Die was delayed until April 2021, it was revealed by the filmmakers earlier this month.

The movie had been scheduled to debut in cinemas on November 11 but will now be delayed in order to cater for a worldwide theatrical audience, the film's producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli today announced. 

A statement on Twitter read: 'MGM, Universal and Bond producers, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, today announced the release of NO TIME TO DIE, the 25th film in the James Bond series, will be delayed until 2 April 2021 in order to be seen by a worldwide theatrical audience.

'We understand the delay will be disappointing to our fans but we now look forward to sharing NO TIME TO DIE next year.'

Pushed back: The release of the No Time To Die was delayed until April 2021, it was revealed by the filmmakers earlier this month

Pushed back: The release of the No Time To Die was delayed until April 2021, it was revealed by the filmmakers earlier this month

The 25th film in the franchise finds Bond after he has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica when his old friend Felix Leiter, played by Jeffrey Wright, from the CIA turns up asking for help. 

Leaving his seemingly happy life with Madeleine, played by actress Lea Seydoux, Bond returns to the field to face Safin who is armed with a new dangerous technology that could impact the world. 

The film, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, was originally scheduled for release in April 2020, but was pushed back to November in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

No Time To Die, which also stars Rami Malek as villain Safin and Ana de Armas as CIA agent Paloma, will deliver a satisfying ending for Daniel Craig's Bond, according to producer Barbara Broccoli.

On Tuesday, Daniel Craig defended James Bond producers' decision to delay the premiere of the new film until April as he claimed it 'wasn't the right time.'

The actor, 52, who plays the title role in the franchise, is the most high profile star from the film to speak out on the move, which was announced on Saturday.

'This isn't the time!': On Tuesday, Daniel Craig defended James Bond producers' decision to delay the premiere of the new film until April

'This isn't the time!': On Tuesday, Daniel Craig defended James Bond producers' decision to delay the premiere of the new film until April

The decision was followed by the news that Cineworld is set to temporarily close its theatres in the UK and Ireland as well as its 536 U.S. Regal cinemas, while Odeon announced around a quarter of its 120 venues will move to a weekend-only model.

Speaking on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Craig said: 'This thing is just bigger than all of us. 

'We want to release the movie at the same time all around the world and this isn't the right time. So fingers cross April 2 is going to be our date.'

Opinion: Speaking on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Craig said: 'This thing is just bigger than all of us'

Opinion: Speaking on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Craig said: 'This thing is just bigger than all of us'

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