Japanese celebrity Norika Fujiwara sets out her quest to become the next James Bond Girl

13-Aug-2004 • Casino Royale

One of Japan's most popular celebrities is hell bent on proving to the world that she can match it with the likes of Pussy Galore and Holly Goodhead.

But Norika Fujiwara is in the rather embarrassing situation of having a question mark hanging over her about whether she has the thespian skills needed to be a James Bond girl, notes Shukan Shincho.

Norika -- the leggy, 33-year-old star of B-grade movies, countless TV variety shows and commercials and a roving cultural ambassador -- has apparently upped the ante in her quest to become the next babe to tackle 007 in the 21st film ( Bond 21 ).

"Norika has been saying for years how she wants to be a Bond girl," an entertainment beat reporter tells Shukan Shincho. "She started working in earnest about three years ago by putting more effort into polishing her English skills. She went to stay with a family in New York for one month."

Back in Gotham again in June, Norika gave a speech in English at a reception the UN held to mark her exhibition of photos taken while on a humanitarian mission in Afghanistan.

"A friend who dined with Norika in New York said she wants to go back to the States this autumn to study more English. She really wants to master the language," an American event planning company insider says. "Everything she is doing is geared toward making her into a Bond girl."

While multi-talented Norika is undoubtedly keen to show she is every bit as good as Octopussy, how do independent observers fancy her chances of showing she has Plenty O'Toole where she needs it?

"I wouldn't say her chances are absolutely zero," a movie distribution company source tells Shukan Shincho. "A couple of years ago, a 007 scenario was published with the story taking place on Naoshima, a small island with a population of about 3,600 in Kagawa Prefecture. The story is about a summit meeting being held on the island and threatened by yakuza terrorists with James Bond assigned to ensure the safety of the convention. If this story ends up being filmed and Japan is chosen as a location for shooting, Norika may well get the chance to become a Bond girl."

Respected movie critic Reiko Kitagawa notes that while facing an adoring Japanese audience, Norika may well have a license to thrill, but on a world stage the Goldfinger showed to her could well be a middle one.

"(Norika) has got too much of a moonface, her expression is poor and her acting skills non-existent," the critic says, seemingly forgetting that it's usually a couple of other assets rather than thespianism that has influenced the choice of many past Bond girls. "(Norika) hasn't got what it takes to be a Bond girl. She has no idea of how limited her abilities really are. I kinda feel sorry for her."

Celebrity reporter Masaru Nashimoto concurs.

"Right now, Norika's acting career is at the crossroads. There was a stage once upon a time when there were serious discussions about her taking on Hollywood. She'd come from nowhere to dominate the TV commercial world and then moved into movies," Japan's most famous glitterati scribe tells Shukan Shincho. "Unfortunately, Norika didn't have what was needed to show she deserved all the praise that was being showered on her. In the end, it all comes down to the fact that she just can't act."

Thanks to `JP` for the alert.