Fiennes voted favourite for next Bond

Actor Ralph Fiennes is film fans’ top choice to be the next James Bond, according to a poll released today.

The brooding star of The English Patient and Schindler’s List beat the likes of Colin Firth and Robbie Williams as the best man to play 007.

Almost a quarter of people surveyed (24%) reckoned Fiennes would make the perfect replacement for current Bond Pierce Brosnan.

The 40-year-old actor recently showed off his romantic leading man credentials opposite Jennifer Lopez in Maid In Manhattan.

Movie heart-throb George Clooney came second in the poll by amazon.co.uk, with 15% of film fans believing the role should go to the American star.

Colin Firth, who got pulses racing as Mr Darcy in the TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, tied with fellow British actor Clive Owen for third place with 12%.

And 11% chose chart star Robbie Williams despite his lack of acting credentials.

Hollywood heavyweights Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck and Russell Crowe got only 10% of the vote between them.

Hugh Grant, Jude Law and Ewan McGregor were all missing from the list.

The survey of 1,000 people was conducted by amazon to celebrate the forthcoming DVD and video release of the latest Bond blockbuster Die Another Day.

Unsurprisingly, women favoured Clooney, with 20% voting to see him bedding Bond girls compared to 19% for Fiennes.

In an identical amazon poll carried out in France and Germany, Clooney came out on top with Ben Affleck and Mel Gibson also highly placed.