Last week, we polled TKZers about which actor best portrayed Ian Fleming’s James Bond character. In the interest of equal gender-time, today let’s say who we think played the best Bond Girl. (Although I choke on the word “girl.” But it is what it is, as they say.) This was a tough assignment–turns out there have been about a bazillion Bond Girls–the Good, the Bad, and the Very Good When They’re Very Bad. I’ve only skimmed the surface of some of the better known Bond Girls in this post. Add your nominations for any I missed in the Comments.
Have at it!
Dr. No
Dr. No had almost too many Bond gals to keep track of. Here are some of the top Bondesses.
I mean, come on. Can anything beat Ursula Andress emerging from the waves as Honey Ryder in Dr. No? (Well, maybe Bo Derek topped that Venus rising moment in Ten, but as a non-Bondess, Bo doesn’t count.) Eunice Gayson (as Sylva Trench) also appeared in Dr. No and several other Bond films. She is famous for introducing herself to Bond as “Trench. Sylvia Trench.” Bond picked up that intro line and made it his mocking trademark way of introducing himself. Zena Marshall also appeared in that film as Miss Taro, Evil Spy Extraordinaire.
From Russia With Love
Daniela Bianchi, hot Russian chick turned reluctant spy “Tatiana Romanova”, who winds up falling for Bond. What could be more fun?
Goldfinger
Pussy Galore, Goldfinger, you get the idea. Played by Honor Blackman. “Jill Masterson”, played by Shirley Eaton, also played a doomed Bondess in the film. She died Midas-like, covered in gold paint.
Thunderball
Claudine Auger played Domino Derval, mistress of an evil SPECTRE agent.
You Only Live Twice
Mie Hama played Kissy Suzuki, who had a mock wedding with Bond during the film.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
James Bond fell in love with Teresa di Vicenso, played by Diana Rigg in this film. Can you blame him?
Diamonds Are Forever
Jill St. John played Tiffany Case, a diamond smuggler. And Trina Parks played judo Bondess Thumper. Wowzer.
Seriously, there are so many Bond Girls, I can’t profile all of them in one shot. Here are some other notable Bond Girls:
Britt Ekland as Mary Goodnight in The Man With The Golden Gun.
Barbara Bach as Anya Amasova in The Spy Who Loved Me.
Lois Chiles as Holly Goodhead (!) in Moonraker.
Maud Adams as Octopussy in Octopussy.
Grace Jones as May Day in A View To A Kill.
Izabella Scorupco as Natalya Simonova in Goldeneye.
Teri Hatcher as Paris Carver in Tomorrow Never Dies.
Halle Berry as Jinx in Die Another Day.
Last but not least, we have a character who didn’t get a name; she was simply called “Bond’s lover” in Skyfall, played by Tonia Sotiropoulou. I guess people were too busy freaking out about James Bond as a blond to give her character an actual name. Bond Girls nowadays need to “lean in” and get some better stature in Hollywood, I’m thinking.
Phew! There are many, many more Bond Girls in films that aren’t mentioned here. Are any of these your favorite, or is it one that I missed? Now let’s all go over to Netflix and binge out watching Bond flicks. Happy Friday!
Kathryn, I have to confess that I’ve never seen a James Bond movie. I know, I know…it’s almost un-American. However, after seeing some of the pictures of the women involved, I’m thinking I need to find a 007 retrospective somewhere and sneak off to see it…merely for writing research, of course.
I knew this post would motivate some people to watch a few of them, Richard! Have to say last week’s post on the best James Bond character got me to watch a few I’d missed, as well. 🙂
I noticed you description was ” the good, the bas and the very good…*
There were no “uglies” as I recall…
🙂
Chauvinistically yours…
g
G, I believe “Not Ugly” was the primary requirement for Bond Girls. “Not Nice”, “Not Trustworthy”–those traits were all A.O.K., though!
While I suppose this is best answered from a male perspective, I’m jumping in because, actress-wise, my two favorite Bond Girls are Diana Riggs and Jill St. John.
BTW, my vote for Best Bond, is Sean Connery, hands down.
Just sayin’ …
I was awed by that photo of Jill St. John–bet the guys loved her in that one, too!
I grew up with Bond – From the 60s up through now. Although I caught most of the 60’s Bonds as TV in 70s. As a girl – I’ve always liked girls that could handle themselves. I narrowed my list down to my 4 favs-
Kissy Suzuki – Ninja-girl ’nuff said. Although You Only Live Twice has always been one of my favorite Bond movies. Maybe because it was a total immersion in another culture and Bond had to fit in too, instead of stick out (like usual).
Pussy Galore – Despite the horrible, side-splitting name – she ran her own game. Goldfinger didn’t own her, Bond didn’t run roughshod over her – She was a pilot with her own team, running a business and working as a woman in a man’s world, without breaking a sweat – unless she wanted to.
Octopussy – (obviously they leave the picking of the Bond girl names to 9th & 10th grade boys) – Business woman – gorgeous, doing her own thing, unapologetically.
Wai Lin – Michelle Yeoh as a Chinese superspy extraordinaire, in Tomorrow Never Dies. (Time spent with Jackie Chan counts as excellent training for exceptional Bond-girl-ness apparently.) I LOVE Michelle Yeoh! She was in it as an equal-spy asset. Major butt-kicking ensued- with style!
Can I cast a vote for Miss Moneypenny?
Definitely! 😀
I may get in trouble from my wife, but here goes. When I think of Bond girls, Ursula Andress (Pussy Galore) is the one that comes to mind almost immediately. She was the stereo typical Bond girl. But If I have to pick my favorite it would be Diana Rigg. She was classy and sophisticated. Plus if Bond himself were to pick his favorite I think he would also pick Dame Rigg.
Next week, we should run a contest to name the next Bond Girl. Might get too risqué for a family-friendly blog, though. ?
I gotta add another oddball vote. I know this is about babes, but I absolutely adored Judi Dench as M in Skyfall. She was crusty and cerebral (and sexy in her own way) and certainly had Bond pegged when she told him he was “a sexist, misogynist dinosaur, a relic of the Cold War.”
Her portrayal (and Craig’s) moved the franchise out of cartoon category and into something more poignant and multi-dimensional. I was fully prepared to hate the “new” Bond but that movie (and her M) drew me back in.
My two favorite Bond women were Helen Mirren in “Skyfall” — Loved that fur hat and weapon combo. I also agree with Kris about Dame Judi.