Bérénice is new French Bond girl

MODEL and actress Bérénice Marlohe will be the new Bond girl alongside Daniel Craig in the new movie, Skyfall.

The producers of the 23rd of the Bond films, and the third to star Craig as 007, chose Bérénice after an audition at Pinewood Studios outside London. She will follow in the footsteps of French Bond girls such as Eva Green, Sophie Marceau and Carole Bouquet.

Revealed at a press conference to announce the new cast, Bérénice said that it was an "exhilarating" opportunity. She has had to undergo a martial arts training and to learn how to handle weapons for the role as Séverine.

British actress Naomie Harris will play an agent, Eve, but later becomes Miss Moneypenny. Judi Dench continues as M, a role she has played since 1995, while Javier Bardem will be the "baddie". The film, directed by Sam Mendes, is due to start filming in London, Shanghai, Turkey and in Scotland. It will be released on October 24 next year in France.

Bérénice has previously worked in the TV series R.I.S Police Scientifique while Naomie made her name in the Danny Boyle film 28 Days Later.