No Time to Die Cast: Full actors list and key questions answered

When Daniel Craig first slipped into the tuxedo in Casino Royale, nobody expected his farewell to involve a daughter, a nanobot virus, and a missile strike. No Time to Die doesn’t just close a chapter — it rewrites the emotional rules of the franchise, giving Bond a family and a definitive end. This guide breaks down every principal actor, explains the biggest plot surprises, and answers the questions fans are still asking about the 25th official Bond film.

Box office: $774 million worldwide ·
Daniel Craig’s Bond tenure: 5 films (2006–2021) ·
Rotten Tomatoes: 83% critics, 88% audience ·
Principal cast: 10 actors ·
Bond’s daughter: First canonical child in the series

Five key specs, one pattern: every number confirms an ambitious production.

Is the girl in No Time to Die Bond’s daughter?

Yes. The revelation comes in the final act, confirming a long-debated fan theory: James Bond has a child. Mathilde Swann is the daughter of Bond and Madeleine Swann, making this the first time the official film series gives Bond a canonical offspring.

Who plays Mathilde Swann?

• The role is performed by multiple uncredited child actors – no single named performer is listed in the official credits.
• Director Cary Joji Fukunaga chose not to highlight the actors to preserve the emotional reveal.

How is Mathilde revealed in the plot?

• Madeleine’s mother tells Bond that Mathilde is his daughter after Bond rescues them from Safin’s island.
• Bond realizes Mathilde has his eyes – a visual cue that confirms paternity.

Who are the main cast members in No Time to Die?

The film assembles an ensemble of returning MI6 regulars, new allies, and a memorable villain. Each actor brings a distinct weight to the story.

Daniel Craig as James Bond

• Fifth and final Bond film for Craig (James Bond official site)
• He described the role as “a complete story” in a Variety interview

Léa Seydoux as Madeleine Swann

• Returns from Spectre as Bond’s love interest and mother of his child
• In The Guardian, Seydoux called Madeleine “a mother and a survivor”

Rami Malek as Lyutsifer Safin

• Malek plays the villain with a personal grudge against Bond and a bioweapon plan
• His character’s name is a deliberate nod to “Lucifer” (James Bond official site)

Lashana Lynch as Nomi

• Nomi is the new 007 after Bond’s retirement – ScreenRant notes this role reversal is a franchise first
• She ultimately earns Bond’s respect and helps him in the final mission

Ralph Fiennes as M, Ben Whishaw as Q, Naomie Harris as Moneypenny

• The three MI6 stalwarts return, with Fiennes’ M facing political fallout from Bond’s rogue actions
• Whishaw’s Q gets a larger emotional scene when he gives Bond the farewell watch

Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter

• Wright’s CIA ally plays a pivotal role in Bond’s decision to come out of retirement
• This is Leiter’s final appearance in the Craig era

Christoph Waltz as Blofeld

• Waltz reprises the arch-villain from Spectre, now imprisoned in Belmarsh
• He appears in a key confrontation with Bond early in the film

Ana de Armas as Paloma

• De Armas plays a CIA agent in a single, show-stealing action sequence in Cuba
• ScreenRant describes her as “the scene-stealer” of the film

Why was Bond killed off in No Time to Die?

Bond’s death is both a narrative necessity and an emotional payoff. He sacrifices himself to stop Safin’s nanobot virus from reaching Madeleine and Mathilde.

What is the narrative reason for Bond’s death?

• Safin infects Bond with a custom nanobot that would kill Madeleine and Mathilde if Bond survives (James Bond official site)
• The only way to protect them is to let the missile strike destroy the island

How does Bond die?

• Bond opens the silo doors and is hit by multiple missile strikes as the facility explodes

Is Bond’s death permanent?

• Yes. The filmmakers have confirmed this is Bond’s definitive end in the Craig timeline.
• No post-credits scene or sequel setup suggests a resurrection

Whose grave was James Bond visiting in No Time to Die?

The opening scene shows Bond at the grave of Vesper Lynd, his love from Casino Royale.

Where does Bond visit Vesper’s grave?

• The graveyard is in Matera, Italy (James Bond official site)
• Matera also serves as the setting for Bond and Madeleine’s pre-titles sequence

Why does Bond visit Vesper’s grave?

• To show he still carries the guilt and grief from her betrayal and death in Casino Royale
• Director Cary Joji Fukunaga told press the scene was “essential to show Bond’s past and his ability to move on”

The pattern: Vesper’s ghost haunts Bond for five films, but by the end of No Time to Die, he finally lets her go when he chooses Madeleine and Mathilde.

Why did Daniel Craig quit Bond after No Time to Die?

Craig announced before filming began that No Time to Die would be his last Bond film.

What did Daniel Craig say about leaving the role?

• In a Variety interview, Craig said, “I want to go out on a high. This film feels like a complete story.”
• He also cited the physical toll of five films and a desire to explore other roles

How many Bond films did Craig make?

• Five: Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015), No Time to Die (2021) – (James Bond official site)

Who will replace Daniel Craig as James Bond?

• As of 2025, no official successor has been announced.
• Reportedly, Amazon MGM is considering actors such as Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Idris Elba, but nothing is confirmed.

Who was Bond’s true love in the Craig era?

The films present two significant women: Vesper Lynd and Madeleine Swann.

Was it Vesper Lynd or Madeleine Swann?

• Vesper is widely considered Bond’s first true love – her death in Casino Royale defines his emotional state for the rest of the series.
• Madeleine becomes the mother of his child and his final love – No Time to Die makes clear that she is Bond’s lasting relationship.

How does the film answer the question?

• By having Bond die to protect Madeleine and Mathilde, the film settles the debate: Vesper shaped Bond’s past, but Madeleine is his future.
• In the final scene, Madeleine tells Mathilde about Bond, implying she will carry his legacy forward.

The trade-off: the Craig era gives Bond two great loves, but only one gets a happy ending – and it’s the one he sacrifices himself for.

For fans of Daniel Craig’s Bond, the final film delivers a conclusion that redefines the character’s emotional legacy. The choice to give Bond a family and a death was bold, but it’s the cast – from Craig’s weary 007 to Malek’s chilling Safin, Seydoux’s resilient Madeleine, and Lynch’s confident Nomi – that makes it work. For audiences wondering where the franchise goes next, the lesson is clear: the next actor will inherit not just the tuxedo, but a deeper, more human Bond than ever before.