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!
On TKZ, we’ve been known to beat the show-don’t-tell drum, because it makes the scene come alive. When a writer nails an emotion so perfectly, it’s easy to visualize the moment.
