25 iconic Bond Girls who nearly put 007 out of a job
Bond Girls have always been a Hollywood staple since the 1962 film Dr. No.
While we might not wholly agree with the concept of the Bond girl, we have undoubtedly loved the films over the years, and the fact of the matter is, with names such as Pussy Galore, Holly Goodhead and Xenia Onatopp, it's hard to take the whole thing seriously as it is.
Some were good, some were bad, some were spies, some were bodyguards - ALL were clearly gorgeous. While some played the love interest of the iconic hero Bond, many held their own as they kicked butt and fought off the baddies, proving that they didn't need a man to come to save them. Meanwhile, in major twists, some ended up being villainous themselves.
So, it's safe to say that the journey of the stereotypical sexualised Bond Girl has come a long way from the sixties, which was evident with Lashana Lynch and Ana de Armas's portrayals in the latest Bond movie, No Time to Die.
Other characters have also helped add to the iconic movie franchise, so join us as we look at our favourite 23 Bond Girls below.
MGMAna de Armas as Paloma
FILM: No Time To Die
While she had already been in the entertainment industry for years, Ana de Armas' role as Paloma, an "irresponsible" and "bubbly" CIA agent assisting Bond on his mission, helped catapult the actress to international fame despite having only ten minutes of screen time.
And Ana's impact was, of course, felt during the casting process, with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli gushing, "It was Ana we all wanted" in the role of Paloma.
MGMLashana Lynch as Nomi
FILM: No Time To Die (2021)
Nomi held her own as a new agent assigned with the famous 007 number some time after Bond's retirement. Her role fuelled speculation that a black woman could be the next 007, which some people were not happy about. Speaking of the response to the swirling rumours, Lashana said: "I think it comes with playing positions of power on screen."
She added to British Vogue: "No one likes change, particularly a small amount of white people who have a lot to say about the black experience. But none of that has anything to do with me personally. It could have been another black woman cast, and the comments would have been the same."
Rex FeaturesCassandra Harris as Countess Lisl von Schlaf
Film: For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Cassandra Harris was a Bond Girl, both on and off-screen. While she played Lisl opposite Roger Moore in the early eighties film, she was also married to future Bond Pierce Brosnan. In fact, the Australian actress was credited with introducing her husband to James Bond producer Albert Broccoli.
Tragically, Cassandra passed away in 1991 following a four-year battle with ovarian cancer.
Rex FeaturesBritt Ekland as Mary Goodnight
FILM: The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)
Britt Ekland starred as Mary Goodnight, 007’s personal secretary, in The Man With The Golden Gun. In a recent interview, the Swedish actress admitted that her time as a sex symbol was tough, and Bond Girls now have it easier. "There are no more Bond girls, they’re Bond women today. With political correctness and MeToo, they have a much better time than we had."
She added to PA Media: “So, I think today the Bond women have it – from a political correctness point of view – in a much better position. But I think we had more fun.”
Léa Seydoux as Dr. Madeleine Swann
FILM: Specture (2015)
Lea Seydoux played Dr. Madeleine Swann, a psychologist working in a private clinic in the Austria Alps, in Spectre before reprising her role in 2021's No Time to Die. “I didn't expect to come back. I actually thought that Spectre was going to be Daniel’s last film,” she told Vogue." But I was really happy to come back after five years, because we shot Spectre quite a long time ago.
“I loved the story of No Time to Die, and the relationship between Bond and Madeleine, and I was really happy about the fact that it was unconventional, with this great material to work with.”
Rex FeaturesUrsula Andress as Honey Ryder
FILM: Dr No (1962)
Honey Ryder emerging from the sea in Dr No is one of the most iconic Bond images of all time, which instantly made her a sex symbol.
"It’s a mystery. All I did was wear this bikini in Dr No – not even a small one – and whoosh! Overnight, I made it. It gave me financial independence and changed my life completely," she told The Sunday Post.
The white bikini Ursula Andress wore was bought at auction in 2001 for £35,000.
Rex FeaturesGemma Arterton as Agent Strawberry Fields
FILM: Quantum of Solace (2008)
Beating off 1,500 girls to star alongside Daniel Craig as Agent Fields in Quantum of Solace hasn’t changed down-to-earth Gemma Arterton.
“I've used most of my earnings buying bits and bobs from Primark,” she said at the time. We love a humble queen!
Rex FeaturesKim Basinger as Domino Vitali
FILM: Never Say Never Again (1983)
Amazingly Kim Basinger had never seen a Bond film when she signed on as Domino alongside Sean Connery in Never Say Never Again. She had also turned down the offer of being a Bond Girl twice as she wanted to be taken seriously as an actress. Eventually, she agreed as her career hadn't taken off the way she had hoped, and knew the role would give her much-needed exposure.
Rex FeaturesHalle Berry as Jinx
FILM: Die Another Day (2002)
In Die Another Day, Pierce Brosnan meets Halle Berry’s Giacinta 'Jinx' Johnson, aka one of the most iconic Bond Girls of all time, as she emerges from the sea in a halter-neck orange bikini. Now why doesn’t that happen to us on holiday?
Nonetheless, Jinx wasn't just a pretty face, as she engaged in an epic sword fight while also puncturing a man's skull. Woah!
Rex FeaturesTeri Hatcher as Paris Carver
FILM: Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
After appearing opposite Superman, Teri Hatcher starred with a very different hero in Tomorrow Never Dies.
Unfortunately, Paris Carver came to a very sticky end as she was shot by her hubby for sleeping with Bond.
Rex FeaturesSophie Marceau as Elektra King
FILM: The World Is Not Enough (1999)
As Elektra King, Sophie Marceau turned on her former lover Bond and strapped him into a torture device.
Of course, no one could ever get away with that, and she was inevitably shot dead at the end.
Rex FeaturesRosamund Pike as Miranda Frost
FILM: Die Another Day (2002)
Rosamund Pike might have played ice queen Miranda Frost in Die Another Day, but at 21, it was (impressively) her first major film role.
Speaking of the experience at the time, she said it was “scary” and she was “quaking inside”. She also candidly expressed that people thought she was exactly like her ruthless character in real life, when in fact, she was a “shy, insecure person out of university”.
Rex FeaturesEva Green as Vesper Lynd
FILM: Casino Royale (2006)
French actress Eva Green appeared as Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale and, after seeing Daniel Craig emerging topless from the sea, told the press: “He is the Bond Girl – not me”.
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Eva spoke fondly of working with Daniel, gushing: "He’s made James Bond human. We see him flawed and vulnerable. He’s the best James Bond we have seen.”
Rex FeaturesDenise Richards as Dr Christmas Jones
FILM: The World Is Not Enough (1999)
Denise Richards played Dr Christmas Jones, a nuclear weapons expert, in The World Is Not Enough. Unfortunately, Denise was criticised heavily for wearing a crop top and shorts while playing the scientist. “It broke my heart that people were making fun of me,” she said. “I'm playing a Bond girl. If I wore a lab coat and pants and a suit, then (fans) would have been upset.”
Rex FeaturesMichelle Yeoh as Wai Lin
FILM: Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
Chinese spy Wai Lin (played by Michaelle Yeoh) meets Bond in Tomorrow Never Dies, and they initially both think the other is trying to kill them. Of course, they soon forget their differences…
Following her big Stateside break, Michelle later admitted that it took a while to be offered roles that weren't stereotypical. However, she was undeterred and now has a shiny Oscar on her mantlepiece.
Rex FeaturesHonor Blackman as Pussy Galore
FILM: Goldfinger (1964)
Who could forget sassy blonde Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger?
Interestingly, Blackman is the oldest-ever Bond Girl, being 37 years of age at the time of filming.
Rex FeaturesDiana Rigg as Countess Teresa di Vicenzo
FILM: On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
George Lazenby might not have won over many critics in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, but Diana Rigg’s turn as Tracy in the flick garnered rave reviews back in the late sixties.
Rex FeaturesGrace Jones as May Day
FILM: May Day (1985)
With her razored hair and 80s power suits, Grace Jones is surely one of the most iconic Bond Girls.
The actress appeared as May Day in A View To Kill and had to be collected every day by producer Barbara Broccoli because she didn’t like early mornings. Totally something we would do!
Rex FeaturesMaud Adams as Octopussy
FILM: Octopussy (1983)
Maud Adams played Octopussy in the eponymous film.
The Swedish actress (spot a theme here) previously appeared as Andrea, who met an untimely death, in The Man With The Golden Gun.
Rex FeaturesOlga Kurylenko as Camille Montes
FILM: Quantum of Solace (2008)
Olga Kurylenko, who played Camille Montes in Quantum Of Solace, was chosen from 400 women who auditioned for the role.
The director chose her because she seemed the least nervous.
Rex FeaturesFamke Janssen as Xenia Onatopp
FILM: GoldenEye (1995)
Famke Janssen cut her action-film teeth well before X-Men in GoldenEye.
The car chase between her character Xenia Onatopp and Pierce Brosnan’s Bond opened the movie and was all the more impressive because Famke did her own stunts.
Rex FeaturesJane Seymour as Solitaire
FILM: Live and Let Die (1973)
Jane Seymour played tarot reader and psychic Solitaire opposite Roger Moore in Live & Let Die.
She uttered the immortal line, "The first time in my life, I feel like a complete woman." Lord. Who wrote this stuff?
Rex FeaturesBarbara Bach as Agent XXX
FILM: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Propelled to stardom, Barbara Bach donned a very low-cut (and 70s) swimsuit for her role as Agent XXX in The Spy Who Loved Me.
She has been married to the Beatles' Ringo Starr since 1981.
Bérénice Marlohe as Séverine
FILM: Skyfall (2012)
Bérénice Marlohe’s role as Séverine in Skyfall was the first English-speaking role for the French actress. And what a role to have!
Naomie Harris as Eve Moneypenny
FILM: Skyfall (2012)
Naomie Harris played secret agent Eve, who worked alongside Bond in Skyfall.
Freida Pinto, Rachel Weisz, Olivia Wilde and Emilia Fox were all rumoured to be playing Bond Girls in the 23rd film of the franchise.
