Joe Cole: I’ve played enough villains – I’d like to be James Bond

Joe Cole has thrown his hat into the ring to play James Bond, saying he has played enough villains.

The London-born actor is a fan favourite to take over when Daniel Craig steps down after the upcoming Bond 25.

Tom Hardy and James Norton are the bookies’ favourites with odds of 12/5 and 9/4 respectively — but Cole, who is placed at 10/1, according to Betfair, said he would like to take a shot at playing the 007 agent.

“I think every young actor in the UK has been linked to James Bond,” Cole told A list. “I’d like to play James Bond. I’ve played enough villains.”

The 29-year-old, from Kingston, played Luke in E4 teen drama Skins and Birmingham gangster John Shelby in the BBC series Peaky Blinders. His latest role sees him as real-life boxer Billy Moore, who took up Muay Thai boxing tournaments after being jailed in Thailand.

Cole said playing the Liverpudlian was a “dream”, but added: “It was really hard — I’m on camera the whole time, I had to change my body … my accent, and I had to embody an addict who has a very different psyche to myself … When I finished the shoot I was very emotional. What we had to do was very challenging.

“We shot long takes and it means you can’t fake a punch so every punch and kick has to connect. I need real endurance and we’re genuinely very sweaty and tired. I was fighting ex-champion prisoner boxers which was scary because they know how to fight.”

Cole, who will return to TV to play a recovering porn addict in Channel 4 drama Pure, said he is getting more fan attention.

“I’ve taken a few more selfies this year than I have any previous years,” he said. “I’m lucky in the sense that the projects I’m most recognised for people genuinely love, so I feel they come to me from a place of mutual respect.”

A Prayer Before Dawn is in cinemas now