Nicola Coughlan in the running to be James Bond's next leading lady but faces stiff competition

Irish actress Nicola Coughlan is being tipped as a potential leading lady in the next Bond movie . As the speculation about who will replace Daniel Craig as James Bond continues, movie fans who begun to wonder who could play the role of the "Bond girl."

The role of the female lead in a Bond film has always been highly sought after, with stars like Eva Green, Gemma Arterton, Halle Berry, Britt Ekland, and Ursula Andress having previously filled the position. Currently, Coughlan is seen as a strong contender for the role, although she's trailing behind Sydney Sweeney, the Irish American known for her roles in Euphoria, The White Lotus, and The Handmaid's Tale.

Coughlan is best known for her role in Derry Girls and Bridgerton, but fans of the latter series fear t hat she may soon leave . The Irish actress plays the role of People Featherington in Bridgerton and her character's love story featured as the main storyline in the most recent season , with some racy scenes in particular getting people talking .

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According to Gambling.com expert, James Leyfield, Sweeney is currently at 6/4 odds. He said: "Sydney Sweeney has been in contention for a while, but the star's price has now been cut by the bookies to 6/4. She has been racking up the film credits in recent years, including Marvel movie Madame Web and romantic-comedy Anyone but You and it wouldn't be a surprise if she added the next Bond movie to her ever-growing career," reports The Irish News.

He added: "Coughlan is also no stranger to the big screen having appeared in last year's Barbie movie, and she would be a shrewd signing by Bond bosses. The star is 7/4 to add a Bond film to her film credits."

Among those also tipped for the prestigious role include Jodie Comer, who played Villanelle in the spy thriller series Killing Eve. Kaya Scodelario, a star of E4's British series Skins, is among the bookmakers' favorites, with Michelle Keegan also mentioned as a potential candidate.

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Pop megastar Dua Lipa's odds have shortened to become the next Bond girl, James revealed. He said: "In January, she was 14/1 to be the next Bond Girl, but the Training Season hitmaker is now into 4/1 sixth favorite for the role, and Bond bosses might even get a two-for-one deal if they recruit her - because she could also perform the theme tune."

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