Sam Neill mortified in live TV interview over his ‘awkward’ James Bond screen test

Much-loved Kiwi actor Sam Neill blushed during a live interview in Australia. today On this morning’s show, he was stunned by past “cruel” videos.

New Zealand-born Neil, 75, appeared on the show via video link to discuss his new memoir with Entertainment Reporter Brooke Bonney.

However, in the middle of the interview, Bonnie brought up a screen test for Neil playing the failed James Bond in 1986 and asked the audience to play the footage.

Shirtless, pistol in hand, 39-year-old Neil walked up to the woman in bed and uttered the immortal words.

As the clip plays, Neil covers his head in embarrassment and jokingly waves his fingers at Bonnie, saying, “Oh my God, no, it’s so cruel to play that, it’s so cruel.” ‘ said.

Neil politely explained his embarrassment and revealed his relief when he missed the role.

“I really didn’t want the part. My friend Pierce Brosnan wanted it so much… I was feeling awkward all day. It was very reassuring to have them – they welcome that!”

“You don’t want to be the Bond that no one likes. That’s a fate worse than death.”

Neil’s James Bond screen test took place a year before Timothy Dalton took over the film role in 1987’s. Living Daylights. Dalton would last only one more film in the role before Brosnan took over for a four-film stint in 1995. golden eye.

Elsewhere in the interview, Neil made the most headlines about the revelation from his new book.He was recently treated for stage 3 blood cancer.

Neil’s candid reveal of his diagnosis of the disease is one of the first mentioned in the book.

“The problem is, I’m an impostor. I may be dying. We may need to speed this up,” he writes in the first chapter.

The first chemotherapy failed, but after two rounds of chemotherapy, Neill is now in remission and cancer-free.

“I am absolutely amazing. I am in remission and have been in remission for about eight months.

“But I wrote this book because I had nothing to do while going through some pretty intense chemotherapy. It gave me something…and I feel really good right now.” ”