The chance to play James Bond seems to be the pinnacle role for many actors.

But for Sam Neill it's the 'poison chalice', and he told the Kyle and Jackie O Show on Thursday he would never have taken on the action role if it had been offered.

Chatting to KIIS FM duo Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson about his current role as Lang Hancock on Channel Nine's mini-series House of Hancock, the actor mentioned he had once begrudgingly tried out for the spy spot.

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'I wouldn't want to be James Bond': New Zealand actor Sam Neill told KIIS FM breakfast program Kyle and Jackie O Show the last audition he did was for the role of James Bond in the '80s but never wanted the job

The name's Neill, Sam Neill: The Northern Ireland born star was talked into auditioning for the famous spy spot in 1985 when Roger Moore wanted to leave the film franchise

'In the early eighties I had an agent, who subsequently I discovered was demented, who pushed me along to audition for James Bond, a job I didn't want to do anyway,' Sam revealed.

When Kyle seemed shocked by the statement, Sam firmly told him: 'I wouldn't want to be James Bond that would be a terrible poison chalice ... I had friends who wanted to be James Bond, I certainly didn't want to,'

The Jurassic Park star is understood to have auditioned as a replacement for Roger Moore when he was ready to leave the role in 1985.

From Russia With Love: Sam recreated a scene from the 1983 film for his audition

DVD feature: The clip of the actor's audition was a special feature on the DVD of The Living Daylights, which was Timothy Dalton's first film as the famous character

In the end actor Timothy Dalton landed the part, which he played for only two movies - The Living Daylights and License to Kill.

A clip of Sam's audition made its way into the special features section of The Living Daylights DVD, showing him recreating a scene form the Roger Moore film From Russia With Love.

Sam wears an open shirt with a gun in hand, walking into a room where a naked woman in bed.

Major role: Sam as Dr Alan Grant in 1995's Jurassic Park

Portrayal: Sam plays Lang Hancock on Channel Nine's mini-series House of Hancock

'I went along and auditioned for that but that was under great sufferance and I wouldn't have done it anyway,' Sam told Kyle and Jackie O.

The New Zealand actor, who was born in Northern Ireland, previously told the Belfast Telegraph in 2012 about the audition, saying he was glad he never got the part because 'You would get stuck with that label.'

'I just did a job with Pierce [Brosnan], he’s a great fellow,' Sam said.

'I wouldn't have done it anyway': The actor said he was pushed into the audition but would have turned down the role, which eventually went to Timothy Dalton

'If you walk through London with Pierce people shout at him. Why would you want that?

'That’s the worst — losing your anonymity,' he added.

Sam, 67, also told the Australian radio show that he researched lots before taking on his current role as Lang Hankock on mini-series House of Hancock.

Former Bond: Pierce Brosnan starred in four Bond films: Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough and Die Another Day

Long-running: Sean Connery played Bond in a staggering seven movies

Another: Timothy Dalton played the part for only two movies The Living Daylights and License to Kill

'There's very little that comes out of his mouth that isn't on public record, he does say some startling things from time-to-time,' he said, referring to Gina Rinehart's recent comments about the false nature of the show.

'I think it's fair and well researched - we're not in the business of lampooning anyone or being satirical,' Sam added.

House of Hancock concludes on Sunday 15 February, 8.45pm on the Nine Network.

'He says some startling things': The actor told Kyle and Jackie that he researched his character thoroughly and was surprised sometimes by what he read