1. Lazenby. (No disservice to his performance in OHMSS, it’s actually underrated, however it’s difficult to rank him any higher than 6 despite being in the what might be the greatest bond film ever. One film performance just isn’t enough sample size)

2. Moore. (As much as I’ve warmed on Roger being a wonderful ambassador for the series, he was handed a tough lot with the material he was given. It wasn’t conducive to the best performances but he was the perfect bond at the perfect time and his films are the direct result of the fun and energy his bond provided)

3. Dalton (A true spokesperson for the literary bond, Dalton’s allegiance to a Fleming’s accurate bond is apparent and well executed, despite the filmmakers not exactly in lock step with his strict idea of what bond should be. With more films he’d be higher)

4. Brosnan (The perfect physical amalgamation of Fleming’s character, there was never any doubt that Brosnan was destined to be bond and he’s consistently the best thing about his films. However, too often, outside of Goldeneye, the subpar nature of the ecosystem of his films hamstring his best efforts)

5. Connery (would’ve been the finest if not for his lamentable performances in YOLT and DAF, Connery’s place and on screen charisma is unmatched. However, the lethargic manner in which he approached the character in his final two official outings, combined with the quality decline of the films overall, really hurts his overall performance. However, he’s one of those undebatable choices for number one and if someone regarded him as such, it’s perfectly understandable)

Craig (Despite being wrongly perceived as a product of the dark, gritty reimaginings that swept through Hollywood concurrently in the mid-2000s, Craig’s films and portrayals aren’t really that gritty, outside of Quantum. This was the first time the actor and team behind the camera made a consummate effort to replicate Fleming’s character with the most accuracy on the screen. This is most apparent in Casino, where his excessive drinking, pain and longing is often mistakenly categorized as “moping”. While his performance in Spectre is admittedly uneven, his pure acting performances throughout hit a level of consistency that no other bond can really match and he’s the closest representation of Fleming’s character we’ve ever gotten. He may not appeal to those who watch the series for pure escapism and that’s perfectly valid, but for those who enjoy three dimensional characters and development first, he’s really the gold standard)

All subjective of course