FOR many years, any woman who tangled with James Bond either died a grisly death or was forgotten as soon as the superspy received orders for his next mission.

But the era of the Bond girl as a one-night stand will end on November 14 when Vesper Lynd, played by Eva Green, makes the first of two appearances in the series.

Eon Productions, which owns the Bond film franchise, has suggested that Green’s character will return in Casino Royale’s sequel, which has the temporary title of Bond 22. It is the first time in recent history when one of the spy’s love interests has been a plot device in more than one film.

The actress, who co-starred with Orlando Bloom in Kingdom of Heaven, is expected to appear as a pre-recorded video message transmitted over the internet.

Barbara Broccoli, the daughter of Albert “Cubby” Broccoli and co-producer of the Bond series since Goldeneye, has said that Bond 22 will continue where Casino Royale left off. “We’re already thinking about [the sequel],” she said. “We’re in the early stages. It is an original story, but it’s going to continue part of what the story is in this film.”

Vesper Lynd’s survival in Bond’s affections is an admission that Bond girls are more than just disposable eye candy. Despite a trend for stronger female characters in the past four films, only one other love interest has appeared twice. Sylvia Trench, who met Bond in Dr No, was shown having a picnic with the spy at the beginning of From Russia With Love, but was never seen again.

Trench, played by Eunice Gayson, was one of Bond’s luckier sexual partners. About 12 of 40 have been killed, usually in a grisly manner. Less fortunate women include May Day in A View to a Kill, who was blown up by a bomb, and Jill Masterson, who suffocated after being painted with gold in Goldfinger.

A spokeswoman for Eon said that the only actors confirmed for Bond 22 were Daniel Craig, as Bond, and Dame Judi Dench, as M. “You could speculate that [Eva Green] would need to have a part in it because there are things that need to be explained, but we haven’t made any casting decisions,” she said. According to MI6.co.uk, a James Bond fan site, Green has a clause in her contract that gives her the option to return to the series.

Early reports on Bond 22 suggest that she is a key factor in his next mission. Green, 26, was confirmed as the latest Bond girl in February. Playing the love interest is considered a risk because most Bond girls have faded into obscurity after the film is released. Jane Seymour continued to make TV films but her most popular role after Live and Let Die was in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman.

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