Spectre’s Monica Bellucci: I'm a Bond woman, not a Bond girl, thank you

Bellucci stars alongside Craig in the upcoming Spectre

(Getty)

Actress and model Monica Bellucci made headlines earlier in the year when she became the “oldest Bond girl” ever at 51, four years older than her Spectre co-star Daniel Craig.

She rejects the epithet however, embracing her age and womanhood.

"I can’t say I’m a Bond girl because I’m too mature to be a Bond girl,” she told The Guardian. “I say Bond lady; Bond woman.”

Bond has come in for a lot of criticism lately, with his old-fashioned attitudes and ‘lonely misogyny’ (Daniel Craig’s words not mine) leading the spy to be given an ‘outspoken gay friend’ in the latest Bond novel.

Bellucci said she is proud to be part of the franchise however, helpfully pointing out that Bond is a fictional character.

“I’m proud to be a Bond lady, because actually, Bond is the most amazing man,” she added. “You know why? Because he doesn't exist."