United Kingdom, May 23 -- Matthew Rhys wanted to play James Bond as Welsh.

'The Americans' star was considered for the role of 007 before it went to Daniel Craig and went to a meeting with former Bond producer Barbara Broccoli, and he's now revealed he wanted to use his real Welsh accent in his portrayal of the superspy.

He told The Independent newspaper: "I was just one of many who went to Barbara Broccoli's offices ... I like to say Timothy Dalton was Welsh, but he wasn't a very Welsh Bond. And there's still a lot of prejudice, I find, against a Welsh accent - there's always been a greater love for the Irish.

"With Bond, I think they probably would've gone for a toned-down version of Welsh. I would certainly have advocated for it unt...