In pictures: 50 years of James Bond on screen

THE world’s most famous spy marks a half century of martinis, girls, Aston Martins and deranged villains on Friday when ‘Global James Bond Day’ celebrates the 50th anniversary of 007.

Ian Fleming’s first Bond novel, Casino Royale, was published in 1953, but the suave British spy did not have its cinematic debut until 1962, with a young Sean Connery cast for Dr No.

Sir Sean may have made the role his own in the 1960s, but it was Roger Moore who holds the record for most Bond films, playing the spy in seven films between 1973 and 1985.

Timothy Dalton took the baton for two forgettable movies before Pierce Brosnan revitalised the franchise in 1995’s GoldenEye, the first Bond film not to take story elements from Fleming.

Brosnan’s decision to quit the role in 2004 led to much speculation over who would succeed him, with a host of actors including Dougray Scott, Orlando Bloom and Colin Firth mentioned.

But it was Daniel Craig who was handed the task of updating Bond once again, and he was generally praised for his characterisation in Casino Royale in 2006.

Two years later Quantum of Solace received mixed reviews, so there is now added pressure on Skyfall, which is released at the end of October, to live up to the 50th anniversary hype.