Welsh actor Geraint Owen, considered for James Bond role, dies aged 43

A flamboyant former Welsh councillor who had hoped to become James Bond has died suddenly. Geraint Owen, believed to have been in his early 40s, suffered a brain haemorrhage over the weekend - reports ThisIsSouthWales.

Mr Owen — the brother of BBC Wales presenter Rhodri Owen — represented Plaid in Bryncoch South until last year's election, and challenged Neath MP Peter Hain for his Parliamentary seat in the 2005 General Election. He also stood for the party in the Assembly elections against Brian Gibbons for the Aberavon seat during 2003.

Mr Owen auditioned for the 007 role after making his name playing village policeman Rod "The Plod" Phillips in Welsh-language soap Pobol y Cwm. He lost-out to Daniel Craig as the silver-screen secret agent.

Back in November 2004, MI6 reported that Mr Owen had been to several auditions. "I got a call from my agent who said I'd better get to Tunbridge Wells and he told me it was the first audition for the part of James Bond", Mr Owen said. "It was one hell of a drive and I didn't really have to do any lines when I got there. All they asked me to say was my name, my address and who my agent was. But I did it a bit differently because when it came for me to say my agent's name I said it was James Bond, the best-known agent there is."

At the second audition, producers and executives came in to `have a look` before he read from an old Bond script. He obviously impressed them as he was on the shortlist for the screen test. "I'm just waiting to hear where it will be, but wherever it is, I'm going to do Bond in my own Welsh accent. It would be nice to hear him with one. To be now up to the fifth audition for Bond is a bit bizarre. It will certainly turn my life upside down if I get the part".

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