10 Actors Who Could Have Been James Bond

Grant was close friends with Bond producer Albert "Cubby" Broccoli, even serving as Best Man at the franchise mastermind's wedding. But the actor's insistence to do only one movie (he was 58 when "Dr. No" was casting and disinterested in a franchise"), took him out of the running. [Photo Credit: Getty Images]

After George Lazenby's disappointing turn in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," Broccoli and his partner Harry Saltzman searched for a new 007. They were interested in Michael Caine, but after Caine starred in Saltzman's other spy franchise, Len Deighton's Harry Palmer series, the actor turned it down.  [Photo Credit: Getty Images]

Gambon (aka Dumbledore of the "Potter" franchise) told the story better than anyone could on Ryan Tubridy's "Late Late Show": "Years ago, when I was young and had hair and quite thin ... Cubby Broccoli got 10 young stage actors, and I was one of them, into an office in the West End and interviewed us. I can't play James Bond because I'm bald, got a double chin, and girls tits. He said, 'so does Sean Connery. So we put a wig on him and put two leather bags on his chest [full of ice] before the take, when he's naked with the girls ... so you could well do it!' And then he didn't offer it to me."  [Photo Credit: Getty Images]

When Roger Moore's involvement in "Octopussy" in 1983 looked murky, actors were pursued to fill his shoes — including the American heartthrob James Brolin. Brolin went so far as to film a screen test, filling the shoes of Connery for a scene from "From Russia with Love." Aside from the 1954 TV adaptation (featuring "Jimmy Bond") Brolin's test may be only representation of an American 007 that will ever see the light of day (it's readily available on YouTube).  [Photo Credit: Wireimage]

Neill was a possiblity for "The Living Daylights" after his turn in British miniseries "Reilly, Ace of Spies," but lost out to Timothy Dalton in the end. In an interview with The Guardian in 2008, Neill suggests he never actually wanted to play the part and that he would have made a horrible Bond. Why? His own words: "Let me list the ways...." [Photo Credit: Getty Images]

Fiennes appears in this week's 24th James Bond blockbuster "Skyfall," but it's not his first run-in with the super spy. The actor reportedly auditioned for "Goldeneye" after his Oscar nomianted role in "Schindler's List." He'll get his due when he stars alongside Daniel Craig in 007's latest adventure.  [Photo Credit: WENN]

Owen was reportedly close to nabbing the James Bond moniker after Pierce Brosnan, but lost out on the role after the current producers, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, opted out of including gross profit points for the actor’s contract. He would have made a decent Bond, but not for the price he needed to take the job.  [Photo Credit: Columbia Pictures]

Salmon — a British actor seen in "Resident Evil" and the CW's current hit "Arrow" — was vocal about his Bond audition process in 2004. In numerous interviews, Salmon cited that if he didn't get the part, it wouldn't necessarily be because he's black, but rather that he'd already appeared in the franchise. Salmon had appeared in "Tomorrow Never Dies," "The World Is Not Enough," and "Die Another Day" as Chief of Staff Charles Robinson.  [Photo Credit: Getty Images]

Cavill was one of the many in consideration for the "Casino Royale" gig, but was eventually deemed too young for the part. Producers were aiming to reinvent the character with an "origin" story, but not from the crib. Losing out may have paid off for Cavill: he'll next be seen as Superman in "Man of Steel."  [Photo Credit: Getty Images]