Of all the "James Bond" films, Vesper Lynd, who is introduced in "Casino Royale" (2006) is one of the most loved female characters in the series due to her unique personality and approach to life. Not only was she able to soften the hard heart of James, but so much can be learned from Vesper’s character throughout the movie, and many of her traits make her a wonderful example to women and girls everywhere. Yes, she has her flaws, but overall, she’s pretty great. Here are a few examples why.
1. She is unafraid to speak her mind.
For most of history, women were expected to be demure, quiet and polite, and never to challenge men. Even today, outspokenness can rub people the wrong way, but Vesper shows the importance of truthfulness, even if it’s a little harsh. Her fearlessness to call Bond out on his egotistical tendencies and her refusal for him to have the upper hand defines her as a true icon of female strength and confidence, two traits I believe all girls should aspire to attain, in one way or another.
2. She is level-headed.
Under scenes of great stress throughout the movie, she is able to work past the fears that are present and solve the problems at hand that are causing danger to herself or others. When James is going into cardiac arrest and only has a few seconds until his heart completely fails, Vesper is able to stay calm and resuscitate him. Similarly, when confronted with a murderer attempting to kill Bond and herself, she succeeds in clearing up the situation and staying calm in the moment. Learning how to do this is so important for countless life situations and Vesper’s portrayal of strength and control continues to inspire women. In fact, in my opinion this is a trait that all people, not just women, should aspire to attain.
3. She cares deeply for those she loves.
Although she has a tough, somewhat prickly exterior, as the movie progresses we learn that she is a sensitive individual. She devotes her life to James and her mysterious love and puts those she truly cares for before herself, her hard exterior simply a defense mechanism used in order to hide her painful past. It is so easy to become selfish in today’s society and life is oftentimes guided by factors such as achieving perfect grades and having a successful career. But Vesper reminds us of how important it is to make caring for loved ones a priority.
4. She respects herself.
One of my favorite quotes by her in the movie is when she is talking to James on the train where they first meet and she tells him, “I wouldn’t go as far as to call you a cold-hearted bastard, but it’s not a stretch to say you view women as disposable pleasures rather than meaningful pursuits.” This statement she makes subtly tells James that he can erase the thought of ever treating her like an object. Rather than flinging herself at the feet of the handsome agent, like a ton of other women do in the series, she encourages girls to treasure themselves and not give into people who simply want to use them as a tool for their own enjoyment. Definitely an admirable trait in my opinion!
5. She doesn’t focus solely on outer beauty.
Although Vesper is gorgeous and known for her beauty, she does not flaunt it. Although I love fashion and totally support people expressing their personal styles, I have to commend her for her decision to wear simple, unassuming, modest clothing, when she could so easily use her stunning features as a weapon or become arrogant. In fact, on the train when James and Vesper first meet, James points out that she wears slightly masculine clothes in order to downplay her beauty in an attempt for her male collegues to take her more seriously; she is more focused on working and intellectualism rather than using superficiality in order to get what she wants, something I believe all women should aspire to do.
