007: Licence to lookalike

Douglas James in action

By BBC News Online's Tim Masters

The name's James, Douglas James - and he has a licence to ... impersonate.

People say the likeness is uncanny - I even get a response when I'm just shopping in the supermarket

Douglas James

Former model and TV presenter Douglas James looks so much like 007 actor Pierce Brosnan that being a lookalike is now a full-time job.

"I've doubled for Pierce in all three of his films," says James. "People say the likeness is uncanny. I even get a response when I'm just shopping in the supermarket."

Douglas James: Spot the difference...

James has been in the Bond lookalike business for more than six years and it's taken him all over the world.

"I've worked at corporate events in the Caribbean, I've been to Ian Fleming's house Goldeneye in Jamaica, I've scuba-dived in Barbados," he says.

"The downside is all the Bond girls I get to meet," he adds mischievously.

Lookalikes galore

The Bond lookalike scene is big business.

One agent has on its books

• two Sean Connerys (60s and present versions)
• an Oddjob
• a Timothy Dalton
• a Roger Moore
• Jaws - the steel-toothed assassin ("larger venues preferred" says the blurb)

James says he often meets other lookalikes at Bond-themed events.

With a typical three appearances a week, he's often called on to drive cars through windows, or leap out of helicopters.

Pierce only plays Bond for 31 weeks of the year, while I play him all year round

Douglas James

It was James who doubled for Pierce Brosnan in the jet fighter in the pre-title sequence to Tomorrow Never Dies.

"Stunts is one of my hobbies - I was never a stamp collector or a trainspotter," he says.

James doubles for Pierce Brosnan in the movies

But he does admit to previous unglamorous occupations like kitchen design and insurance.

James has come face-to-face with Pierce Brosnan on several occasions.

"The first time he saw me he said 'So you're my impersonator are you?' and gave me the once over. It was quite bizarre."

But what's the attraction of Ian Fleming's superspy?

"He's the ultimate action hero," says James, who became hooked on Bond as a child in the Connery era.

"They say Pierce only plays Bond for 31 weeks of the year, while I play him all year round."

"I guess you could say it's the best job in the world."