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Margot Robbie’s next rumoured role could be a doozy

Margot Robbie is the hot favourite to play an iconic role.

Margot Robbie is the hot favourite to play an iconic role. Photo: Getty

If the bookies are to be believed, Australia’s own Margot Robbie is the frontrunner to play a James Bond love interest in the next film instalment of the beloved British spy series.

According to UK betting outfit Paddy Power, Robbie, 26, is the favourite to nab the coveted gig with odds of 12/1.

Trailing behind her were British actress Emily Blunt at 16/1, American model Emily Ratajkowski on 22/1 and Harry Potter star Emma Watson at 40/1.

Australian site Sportsbet also had Robbie as the odds-on favourite to be the next “main femme fatale” in the film franchise.

But despite Robbie having the right credentials to play 007’s female counterpart? She’s smart, beautiful and does most of her own stunts – getting the role could do her more harm than good.

Robbie is more than equipped to play a Bond girl.

Robbie – pictured here in 2015’s Focus – is more than equipped to play a Bond girl.

Traditionally, playing James Bond’s love interest has been the kiss of death for an actress’s career.

While a lucky handful of female actors like Naomie Harris (Moneypenny) and Judi Dench (M) have been granted enduring main roles in the franchise, most female actors who appear alongside Bond have a small on-screen lifespan and even smaller post-Bond career prospects.

A quick scan back over the last five Bond girls returns a list of actresses who, whilst recognisable, have failed to gain leading roles in major Hollywood films.

French actress Olga Kurylenko had a few supporting roles but soon disappeared into obscurity after starring alongside Daniel Craig in 2008’s Quantum of Solace, while Berenice Marlohe has only had one feature film role since 2012’s Skyfall.

Olga Kurylenko (right) had a brief moment in the spotlight.

Olga Kurylenko (right) had a brief moment in the spotlight.

Other names that might sound familiar but forgettable include Shirley Eaton, Tania Mallet, Britt Ekland, Fiona Fullerton, Izabella Scorupco and Serena Scott Thomas, to name a few.

Of course, there are exceptions to the rule – like Rosamund Pike, Eva Green, Gemma Arterton and, most recently, Lea Seydoux. But these are actresses who already found success in Europe and simply used the role to crack the American market.

Robbie has already cracked the American market, if not the global market. She’s also arguably surpassed the role of love interest. She did it back in 2013 as Leonardo DiCaprio’s firecracker wife in The Wolf of Wall Street – critics agreed she gave Leo a run for his money.

As Harley Quinn, Robbie may have already scored her own spin-off film.

As Harley Quinn, Robbie may have already scored her own spin-off film.

Robbie is also rumoured to have secured her own superhero franchise as antihero Harley Quinn before this year’s Suicide Squad has even hit theatres.

Robbie doesn’t need to play second string to current Bond Daniel Craig (if he remains in the franchise, that is) and she certainly doesn’t need to risk relegating herself to the role of female eye candy for the rest of her career.

In fact, with her action movie credentials and bankability, she’s better suited to the role of Bond than Bond girl.

As The Guardian’s film writer Ben Child wrote: “In the era of brilliant TV such as Orange is the New Black it is simply rather tedious to see one of our finest young female stars being pitched for parts that closely resemble every “love interest” role seen on the big screen for the past 50 years.”

Robbie would do well to leave the Bond girl role to the one-hit wonders and focus instead on furthering her own course of world domination.

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