It has been several decades since we were first introduced to James Bond, yet the franchise remains iconic as any action series can be. We are sure that most fans will agree with us when we say that the movies would not have been the same without all the Bond girls. No matter how popular Agent 007 is, there is always a lot of intrigue about the latest Bond girl. Over the course of more than twenty films, the series has introduced dozens of lovely ladies to us. While some of them were already established stars, many actresses were unknown before their time in the franchise. Most of the time, the role gave them a big break to launch an even more successful career. Let us take a walk down memory lane and see where they are now.
Eunice Gayson
The rise of the Bond girl has a lot to do with Eunice Gayson. We saw her in the first two films of the series: Dr. No and From Russia with Love. At first, she was cast to bring Ms. Moneypenny to life, but she went on to play Sylvia Trench instead. The studio thought about turning her into a recurring role, but they later ditched the idea. At any rate, she will always be an icon in our eyes.
Take A Walk Down Memory Lane By Checking Out Our Favorite Bond Girls
Ursula Andress
Many people would say that Ursula Andress was the very first Bond Girl. She immortalized the role with that head-turning ocean scene! She was nothing short of stunning. Her character was also brilliant. A few decades after that, Halle Berry nodded to the scene in question in Die Another Day.
Eunice Gayson
Daniela Bianchi
Born in Italy, Daniela Bianchi first made a name for herself as a model and beauty queen. Her beauty helped her land a couple of film roles both in France and her home country. However, her true big break came in the form of Tatiana Romanova in From Russia with Love. She starred in it alongside Eunice Gayson. After her appearance in the franchise, she went on to land more acting gigs.
Ursula Andress
Shirley Eaton
Before she bagged a role in the franchise, Shirley Eaton was already a pretty accomplished actress. She continued to be active in the scene until 1969. Even though she had a brief time on the series, it was among the most memorable ones. She was painted in all gold in Goldfinger. To many fans, this is the greatest film in the Bond series. It was so iconic that she graces the cover of LIFE magazine in its November 1964 issue.
Daniela Bianchi
Honor Blackman
In 1947, Honor Blackman made her film debut in Fame is the Spur. She went on to bag roles in TV and film such as The Avengers and Jason and the Argonauts. Thanks to her role in the former, she was cast to become yet another Bond girl. She joined the cast of the third movie in the franchise, Goldfinger. True fans of the series will already know that she brought Pussy Galore to life. Is it really a mystery why she has become so popular? With her acting chops and the ridiculous character name, she became an icon among cinephiles.
Shirley Eaton
Claudine Auger
This French actress got her start as a model. Claudine Auger also made a name for herself as a beauty queen, having earned Miss France Monde’s title and finishing first runner-up at Miss World in 1958. She snagged a few minor film roles that placed her on the radar. In 1965, she played Dominique “Domino” Derval in Thunderball. She continued to act all the way until the ‘90s.
Honor Blackman
Luciana Paluzzi
In 1937, Luciana Paluzzi was born in Rome. Unlike most of the women on the list, she already had a great acting resume before she was cast to play a Bond girl. In 1965, she played Fiona Volpe in Thunderball. Even though she did not star in a big blockbuster, she acted until the ‘80s.
Claudine Auger
Akiko Wakabayashi
In the ‘50s and ‘60s, Akiko Wakabayashi was a relatively unknown Japanese actress. Things changed for her once she landed a role in King Kong vs. Godzilla in 1962. After that, she was cast to play a minor character in You Only Live Twice. The producers were impressed with her acting skills, so they offered her a bigger role in the form of Aki. She made history as the first Bond girl of non-European descent. Even though it was successful, she decided to retire after the aforementioned role.
Luciana Paluzzi
Diana Rigg
There is another Bond girl who starred in the British version of The Avengers. From 1965 to 1968, she played Emma Peel on the TV show. It paved the way for her career, ultimately leading her to be cast as a Bond girl. In 1969, she landed Countess Teresa di Vicenzo’s role, who is the wife of Agent 007 in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. In case you want to know what she has been up to lately, she played Olenna Tyrell in the popular HBO fantasy show Game of Thrones. She was a hit among the fans of the hit show!
Akiko Wakabayashi
Queen Elizabeth
It is certainly a rarity that royalty plays a bond girl, however, the Queen did it! For the summer Olympics in 2012, the opening included a cameo of Daniel Craig and Queen Elizabeth. The Queen then parachuted into the Olympics, well a stunt double did but the cameo was all her. The British films have tons of support and are definitely a symbol of Britain thus is was totally fitting. The Queen received an honorary BAFTA for her role as a bond girl.
Queen Elizabeth
Lana Wood
Does she look familiar to you? If so, this might have to do with the fact that Lana Wood is the younger sister of Natalie Wood, who passed away under strange circumstances at her most famous. The younger woman also entered the Hollywood scene and appeared in several TV shows and movies. In 1971, she tried her hand at being a Bond girl with Diamonds are Forever. She was cast to portray Plenty O’Toole. At the moment, she remains active in the industry as a producer and actress.
Lana Wood
Jill St. John
Aside from Lana Wood, Jill St. John also appeared in Diamonds are Forever. Her character was Tiffany Cas. The Los Angeles native launched her acting career in the ‘60s and kept working all the way to the ‘90s. However, she did not land another big role after the Bond film. They say that diamonds are forever, but not all acting careers go on for an eternity.
Jill St. John
Jane Seymour
When the James Bond series was starting, Jane Seymour was among the most familiar faces. As Solitaire, she enamored everyone who watched Live and Let Die. As you probably already know, she has enjoyed a successful career in both TV and movies. Among other things, she was cast to star in Wedding Crashers and Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman. She is a talented woman who has Golden Globe and Emmy awards to her name.
Jane Seymour
Gloria Hendry
This actress made history as the first African-American actress to become a Bond Girl. Gloria Hendry was in Live and Let Die alongside Jane Seymour. She showed off her acting chops in the role of a CIA agent by Rosie Carver’s name. Sadly, this did not translate to Hollywood stardom. As a matter of fact, she did not land any more acting gigs outside of the James Bond franchise. Too bad.
Gloria Hendry
Maud Adams
For the longest time, only European beauties were cast to play Bond girls. After that, they cast a string of American actresses and models to take on the role. Maud Adams, a Swedish-born actress, brought back a European flair to the series not just once but twice. She had a pretty small role in Andrea Anders’s form in The Man with the Golden Gun. In 1983, she appeared in the series once more by playing Octopussy in the movie of the same name.
Maud Adams
Britt Ekland
It looks like The Man with the Golden Gun needed a lot of Swedes! Aside from Maud Adams, Britt Ekland also appeared in the movie. She had an established acting career before this point, however. In the film, she played Mary Goodnight, who is the assistant of James Bond. This only gave her, even more fame and success. The actress continued to be active in the movie industry until the ‘90s.
Britt Ekland
Barbara Bach
No, we do not believe that there is any relation to the talented composer. Barbara Bach was raised in New York. She dropped out of high to pursue a modeling career. She first starred in several European films before she caught a James Bond producer’s eye. This was how she landed the part of Anya Amasova in The Spy Who Loved Me. We wonder if this helped her get the attention of Ringo Starr, a member of The Beatles. The two of them tied the knot in 1981.
Barbara Bach
Lois Chiles
While attending university in Texas, Lois Chiles caught the eye of modeling agents thanks to her natural good looks. In the early ‘70s, she launched a modeling career that landed her a couple of bit roles in films. She also appeared in several big projects such as Death on the Nile and The Great Gatsby. Thanks to their success, she snagged a role in Moonraker. She joined the ranks of other Bond girls by bringing Dr. Holly Goodhead to life in the said movie.
Lois Chiles
Corinne Cléry
This French-born actress enjoyed a very successful acting career in Europe. IMDb reports that Corinne Clery appeared in more than 50 films and TV shows over the years. Her true claim to fame in the United States was her portrayal of Corinne Dufour in Moonraker. In the 1979 Bond film, she was cast to play Hugo Drax’s assistant, who is the main antagonist of the story.
Corinne Cléry
Denise Richards
If you know Denise Richards, perhaps it is as the former wife of the controversial actor Charlie Sheen. But let us not forget that she is a great actress in her own right as well! She has been in a couple of big projects such as Wild Things, Seinfeld, Starship Troopers, and Melrose Place. But if you ask us, her most iconic role is as a Bond Girl. In The World is Not Enough, she delivered a memorable performance in the role of Christmas Jones.
Denise Richards
Lynn-Holly Johnson
Growing up, Lynn-Holly Johnson wanted to be a great figure skater. She was even able to bag the silver medal during the U.S. Figure Skating Championship in 1974! Her fame grew and made it easy for her to go into acting. In 1978, she received a Golden Globe nomination for a film called Ice Castles. It put her on the radar. Three years after that, she played a Bond girl called Bibi Dahl. Sadly, her acting career did not soar much higher after she starred in For Your Eyes Only.
Lynn-Holly Johnson
Carole Bouquet
Born in France, Carole Bouquet started acting and modeling when she was still a young girl. She has enjoyed a long acting career with more than forty movies to her name. Mind you. She still acts to this day. Together with Roger Moore and Lynn-Holly Johnson, she starred in For Your Eyes Only.
Carole Bouquet
Alison Doody
In her youth, Alison Doody lived in Dublin and studied at a convent. She was interested in the arts and started working as an actress. She launched her film career by playing Jenny Flex in A View To Kill. She continues to be active in the film industry. It does not look like she has aged at all!
Alison Doody
Grace Jones
We are sure that you would agree with us when we say that Grace Jones is among the most successful Bond girls. She moved from Jamaica to the United States at the age of 13. As a young woman, she made it big as an actress and appeared in Vogue and Elle publications. She eventually tried her luck in the music industry and, later, Hollywood. She starred in Conan the Destroyer opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger! In 1985, she became a Bond girl by appearing in A View to a Kill.
Grace Jones
Tanya Roberts
Born and raised in the Bronx, Tanya Roberts briefly lived in Toronto before returning to New York City. This was when she launched a career in the fashion world. Apart from modeling, she was in a few small movies as well. She got her big break by starring in Charlie’s Angels. Thanks to this role, she landed a Bond girl in A View to a Kill. She was Stacey Sutton in the Agent 007 film. She went on to enjoy a great career in TV and film. She also played Midge in That ‘70s Show.
Tanya Roberts
Maryam d’Abo
This English-born star dreamt of being on the big screen even as a young girl. Maryam d’Abo got her training at the Drama Center London. She had a part-time gig as a model too. In 1987, she turned into a Bond girl by playing Kara Milovy in The Living Daylights. Not only that, but she co-wrote a book called “Bond Girls are Forever,” which is a tribute to all the ladies who starred in the Bond series.
Maryam D’Abo
Carey Lowell
You can say that Carey Lowell was pretty worldly before she became a Bond girl. Her family traveled a lot when she was young, later settling down in Colorado. She attended the University of Colorado, Boulder, and took up literature during her time there. After this, she pursued a modeling career in the Big Apple. She earned her big break after landing the role of a CIA agent called Pam Bouvier. Her character works with James Bond in License to Kill. She later brought Jamie Ross to life in Law & Order.
Carey Lowell
Talisa Soto
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Talisa Soto was born to Puerto Rican parents. Like the others, she earned instant fame after she landed the part of a Bond girl. This took place when she was cast to star in an Agent 007 film called License to Kill. At the moment, the actress is married to Benjamin Bratt.
Talisa Soto
Famke Janssen
We doubt that we have to introduce this lady to you. In 1995, she starred in Goldeneye opposite Pierce Brosnan. She played Xenia Onatopp in the movie. The Dutch-born star has since enjoyed a great career as an actress and model. She has graced the covers of hundreds of magazines and starred in movies such as Taken and X-Men. How is it possible that she does not age?
Famke Janssen
Izabella Scorupco
In the ‘80s, Izabella Scorupco made waves in the fashion industry and eventually appeared on the cover of Vogue. The European model is of Polish and Swedish descent. She launched a music career as a part of a pop group that released a gold-certified album in Sweden. Thanks to her fame, she caught the eye of film producers. They cast her to play Natalya Simonova in Goldeneye, where she stars alongside Famke Janssen and Pierce Brosnan.
Izabella Scorupco
Teri Hatcher
Here is one more Bond girl who has achieved a great deal of success outside the Bond series. She brought Paris Carver to live in Tomorrow Never Dies. In the past couple of decades, she was in the spotlight. You might also remember her for starring in Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. She also has a very memorable role in Seinfeld. Of course, this would be incomplete if we did not talk about her amazing performance in Desperate Housewives.
Teri Hatcher
Michelle Yeoh
During the ‘90s, Michelle Yeoh achieved a lot of success. That was the time when she starred in a bunch of Chinese box office hits. To be specific, she became known for starring in several martial arts action movies. In 1997, she played a Bond girl in Tomorrow Never Dies. Her biggest role has to be her part in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. It was an Academy Award-winning movie for which she also received a nomination for the Best Actress Award at the BAFTAs.
Michelle Yeoh
Cecilie Thomsen
Born in Denmark, Cecilie Thomsen started acting when she was still a young girl. Nothing will open doors for you like starring in a good James Bond movie when you are an aspiring actress. She had some tough competition in Tomorrow Never Dies. After all, Michelle Yeoh and Teri Hatcher were also in the cast! At any rate, we think that she deserves credit for her portrayal of Inga Bergstrom.
Cecilie Thomsen
Serena Scott Thomas
This English actress spent the early part of her life playing minor roles abroad. Serena Scott Thomas eventually caught the eye of a casting director for a Bond film. We are talking about none other than The World is Not Enough, in which she plays Dr. Molly Warmflash and stars opposite Pierce Brosnan. She has not stopped acting. You might have recently seen her in Inherent Vice.
Serena Scott Thomas
Sophie Marceau
You might already be familiar with Sophie Marceau, who is a French-born actress. She has starred in various European films for more than three decades. When she was young, she shot to stardom and landed Elektra King’s role in a Bond film called The World is Not Enough. She would keep landing big roles after that. Among other things, she appeared in Braveheart and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Despite this, she still prefers working on French films instead of American projects!
Sophie Marceau
Maria Grazia Cucinotta
If you ask us, it is overkill to add three Bond girls to a single movie. Despite this, there is no way we could finish this list without adding Cigar Girl, who Maria Grazia Cucinotta played in Tomorrow Never Dies. In the early ‘90s, she started working in the Italian film industry. It is not hard to believe that some people would watch movies solely for her!
Maria Grazia Cucinotta
Rosamund Pike
Does she look familiar to you? We bet she does. However, Rosamund Pike was still an up-and-coming actress when she appeared in Die Another Day. Her portrayal of Miranda Frost was simply the beginning for her. She has since made a name for herself in the Hollywood scene. You might have seen her incredible performance in Gone Girl a couple of years ago.
Rosamund Pike
Halle Berry
We are sorry if you got impatient waiting for this particular entry. Even though every Bond girl made a memorable entrance in their own way, it is hard to top what Halle Berry did. No one could tear their eyes away from her as she made her way out of the ocean. You already know who she is, so we will keep this one short and sweet.
Halle Berry
Eva Green
While she is now a big star, Eva Green landed her fourth major role in Casino Royale. It might not have been her debut, but it definitely put her on the radar and opened more doors for her acting career. The French actress went on to play Morgan in Camelot. However, she played an even bigger role in the cult hit Penny Dreadful.
Eva Green