Outlander Caitriona Balfe has her sights set on the Bond role rather than being Sam Heughan's sidekick.
Catriona was at London Film Festival to publicise her role in Kenneth Branagh period drama Belfast where she plays the mother of a young boy growing up during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Caitriona's performance in the film has been heavily touted as being Oscar worthy and and it looked like she is a hot contender for Best Supporting Actress for her impassioned portrayal.
The 41-year-old was on the red carpet to talk about her role when she was asked about her thoughts on Outlander co-star Sam Heughan's chances of becoming the new Bond and made it clear she'd want the role for herself before she'd be a Bond girl.
Sam has been tipped at 16/1 to take on the role alongside other Scots actors including Richard Madden and Martin Compston after Daniel Craig announced he was stepping down from the 007 role.
Asked if she knew if Sam would become the next Bond, Caitriona said: "You know I want to know, because I'm expecting some good perks if he is."
When the interviewer from BBC's The Edit replied: "Exactly you need to be the Bond girl, Caitriona looked decidedly unimpressed as she furrowed her brow and said rather curtly: "No I'll be Bond before I'm the Bond girl."
Fans agreed that Caitriona's talent was too great to be a mere sidekick.
One said: "Why couldn't she be Bond? Caitríona would be amazing as 007. Women can portray badass action characters just as well as men. They are no longer just arm candy. Sorry, not sorry."
Another added: "Seriously? This is a LEADING lady…not a sidekick."
