Screenwriter Reveals How Queen Elizabeth II Helped Shape Her Most Iconic TV Moment
“She put herself up for that, she wanted to be in the sketch," writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce revealed.
Queen Elizabeth II was known for many things during her historic rule: Queen of the United Kingdom, loving mother, passionate horsewoman. Later in life, she would be known for one major cultural and cinematic moment as she became a Bond Girl. During the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony, Queen Elizabeth famously joined Daniel Craig for a James Bond scene, where the Queen jumped from a helicopter to land in the stands at the Opening Ceremony.
Writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce was the screenwriter behind the iconic Olympic moment, but he admits that Queen Elizabeth was the real mastermind behind the unforgettable moment. While guest judging on BBC’s Great British Menu, the author revealed that the Queen was “far more engaged” with the script than a normal actor. "When they took the storyboarding to her, she said 'You've got the wrong kind of helicopter—this will never fit under Tower Bridge’," Cottrell-Boyce said.
Queen Elizabeth II at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Summer Olympics.
Queen Elizabeth II parachutes from a helicopter at the 2012 Olympics.
The Queen insisted on being involved with the sketch.
That level of attention to detail shows how committed the late Queen was to every task she undertook. Whether it was a charity visit, meeting new or extended members of the Royal Family, or creating an iconic Bond scene, she was meticulously thoughtful. She was also unafraid to share her thoughts or opinions, even when the biggest names in the industry are in control. Frank Cottrell-Boyce revealed that initially "she didn't have any lines in that sketch," referencing the Olympic Opening Ceremony Bond sketch. “But when Danny Boyle went to film it, she said, 'I think I should have a line'.” And so, the memorable ‘Good evening, Mr Bond’ moment was born.
Frank Cottrell-Boyce spoke candidly about his interactions with the late Queen following her death in 2022. He revealed that a member of his team was sent to Buckingham Palace to help build the set and find a lookalike of the Queen, when he learned that Queen Elizabeth herself intended to be involved. “The queen’s dresser said, ‘Why are you doing all this?’ And we told her, ‘so we can make it look like the queen.’ So she said: ‘Oh, the queen wants to do it,’” he explained to The Hollywood Reporter. “She put herself up for that, she wanted to be in the sketch.”
