Ex-Bond Girl's New 007-Esque Spy Series Releases In Less Than A Month

Published Oct 29, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT

Faith Roswell is a Senior Writer on Screen Rant's Classic TV team. Since earning her degree in Creative Writing over a decade ago, Faith has written articles on film and TV from a variety of different angles. Faith now combines her knowledge of psychology with her love of monster movies to give more insight into what makes the best ones. 

You may have read her Screen Rant lists and features covering horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, or read her Amazon Top 10 book, "Movie Monsters of the Deep."

Faith has had an extensive career as a writer, appearing on BBC live radio, researching true crime for Rotten Mango podcast, and writing for publications including Mental Floss, Atlas Obscura, and The Daily Jaws before beginning here at Screen Rant. 

As the most iconic spy character ever created, James Bond has a unique place in cinema and British culture, and amid speculation over who the new 007 will be, the movies have changed dramatically over time. The same can be said for "Bond girls," a fixture of the franchise, but one which has evolved, with the franchise's leading women now having exciting and gritty storylines of their own, especially during the Daniel Craig era that brought us Vesper Lynd. That said, one Bond girl actor had her potential wasted, and her new spy show looks set to do her justice.

The best modern Bond girls have moved away from pun-laden names and a predictable romance plotline, but Quantum of Solace's Strawberry Fields did not fare so well. Played by Gemma Arterton, Fields was quickly seduced by the much older Bond, before being killed by his enemy. Arterton's roles in The Girl With All the Gifts and Their Finest showcase her as an actor who could easily play a less stereotypical role, and Secret Service has given her that chance, with the former Bond girl starring in the spy thriller adaptation of Tom Bradby's novel of the same name.

Secret Service Takes Gemma Arterton From Bond Girl To Bond-Like Hero

Image via MovieStillsDB

In Secret Service, Arterton plays Kate Henderson, an MI6 agent who links the politician about to become Britain's Prime Minister with a Russian plot to infiltrate the government, and risks everything to expose the conspiracy and hunt down the traitor. There are clear parallels to Bond in Kate's world, with the character adopting undercover identities and investigating world-changing corruption, while the show contains the high-stakes tone, tension, and travel that define the James Bond movies. Secret Service is primarily filmed in London and Malta, but as the enemies close in, Kate finds herself on the Finnish-Russian border.

Seeing the former Bond girl carrying the five-part series will be satisfying for people who agree that Arterton was underused in Quantum of Solace, but there is more to it than being a "female James Bond" show. Kate might be Bond-like, rebelling against orders, trusting nobody, and traveling internationally, but the character's situation makes the series far less predictable than Bond movies tend to be. Except for Felix Leiter, James Bond does not tend to have friends, and operates alone, while Kate has children and a husband that can be used against her, making the risk even higher.

Strawberry Fields only ever introduces herself as "Fields," with her full name only being revealed in the Quantum of Solace credits.

Bradby, a journalist and ITV News presenter, told The Mirror that his inspiration came from the Cold War and its current parallels, saying, "It was clear to me that democratic societies were being undermined. There was the question about whether Western politicians were being bribed, blackmailed, corrupted." The timely nature of the series is certain to attract attention, and as Secret Service is the first of three novels centered on Kate Henderson, there is potential for Arterton's character to return for more missions in the future should the show be a success.

What Reaction & Reviews For Secret Service Have Been Like So Far

Secret Service's Rotten Tomatoes scores have not been as promising as some, with critics rating the series 56% positive, while audiences gave it a 63% positive score. However, middling Rotten Tomatoes scores are often due to a show polarizing its initial audience, with the series often going on to attract a fanbase later as people who did not enjoy the show do not return, while others recommend it. Positive reviews have described Secret Service as "riveting," and the acting performances of the entire cast have been highly praised.

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With episodes directed by Oscar-winner James Walsh, Secret Service also stars Alex Kingston (Doctor Who,) Rafe Spall (Black Mirror,) and Khalid Abdalla (The Day of the Jackal,) and features cameo appearances from British ITV News presenters Ed Balls and Susanna Reid as themselves. While reportedly not being a revolutionary entry in the spy genre, neither is James Bond, and, like the iconic 007 movies, Secret Service tells its story well. The show will be available from November 22, 2026, and releasing a new episode each week.

Source: The Mirror

Secret Service

Cast

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  Rafe Spall

  Stuart Henderson

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  Gemma Arterton

  Kate Henderson

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  Alexander Mercury

  Sergei Malinski

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  Roger Allam

  Sir Alan Brabazon