Penélope Cruz to be next Bond Girl

Spanish beauty Penélope Cruz, 40, is set to become the oldest, and surely most sultry, Bond girl ever

Madrid-born actress Penélope Cruz has been confirmed as the next Bond girl, and will star alongside Daniel Craig in director Sam Mendes’ follow up to Skyfall.

The Oscar winner, whose husband Javier Bardem played the Skyfall villain so brilliantly last time out, will commence filming in the summer of 2014, according to Yahoo.

The film is hotly anticipated after Skyfall’s critical acclaim, and is expected to be released in early 2015.

Cruz will also become the oldest ever Bond girl (if you discount Judi Dench and, well, the Queen – who famously starred alongside Bond during the London Olympic Games 2012 opening ceremony last summer) as she prepares for the role at the grand old age of 40…

Honor Blackman, who played Pussy Galore in 1964’s Goldfinger, was 39-years-old when she seduced the relative spring chicken that was a 33-year-old Sean Connery. Incumbent Bond Daniel Craig is 45.

The producers of the forthcoming movie are reported to be delighted to have secured the sultry services of the Spanish star, with one source telling Yahoo: “The producers have tried to get Penélope before, but she has never previously been available because of other commitments. The discussions have been going on for some time and they are working out the contract details now.”

Cruz has long been one of Spain’s most successful and popular actresses. Having made her name in a series of Spanish-language films under the watchful guidance of the legendary Pedro Almodóvar, Cruz headed to Hollywood and found almost instant success.

We wish her well as she embarks on what promises to be her most iconic role yet.