#10 Pussy Galore
Actress: Honor BlackmanMovie: Goldfinger (1964)
We just couldn't release a top 10 list without including Pussy Galore. The evocative name, the witty banter, and the subtle humor in Goldfinger make up a memorable part of the early series. When most people think of Bond girls, Honor Blackman's performance is usually one of the first that comes to mind.
Honor Blackman had played judo expert Cathy Gale alongside Patrick Macnee in The Avengers for almost two years, before making her return to film. Producer Cubby Broccoli had offered her the role in Goldfinger based on her performance as Cathy Gale, and Honor had to leave the series to appear.
#9 Natalya Simonova
Actress: Izabella ScorupcoMovie: GoldenEye (1995)
Although Pierce Brosnan made four Bond films, Goldeneye is still widely considered his best. It's success above the rest can be attributed to the script, the director Martin Campbell (who also directed Casino Royale), and Polish-Swedish beauty Izabella Scorupco. Natalya Simonova was the highlight of the 90s bond girls--intelligent, cute, and portrayed by a convincing actress.
Natalya appeared again in 1997 in Rare's critically acclaimed video game shooter Goldeneye 007. The game was the 3rd best selling game on the Nintendo 64 (and the best selling non-bundled game), and is still actively played today. Unfortunately, Natalya is cited as one of most annoying video game characters, due to her ease of death when the player must protect her.
#8 Melina Havelock
Actress:
Carole BouquetMovie: For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Roger Moore played a more casual, funny Bond. His first appearance was in Live and Let Die in 1973, and by the end of the 70s, things were getting a litte ridiculous. Moonraker was set in outer space, featured the return of Jaws with a cheesy girlfriend, and was a little heavy on the light comedy. When director John Glen took over for 1981's For Your Eyes Only, he decided to take Bond into a more serious direction.
Carole Bouquet was the perfect actress to bring in. She played Melina Havelock, who witnesses the brutal murder of her parents by hitman Hector Gonzalez, who she tracks down and kills with a crossbow. Unsatisfied by his death alone, she seeks out the man who ordered the hit. Melina was a very strong character, and more integral to the story than most Bond girls. Most importantly, she was played by a competent actress who gave some drama and life to the film.
#7 Mary Goodnight
Actress:
Britt EklandMovie: The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
Mary Goodnight isn't necessarily the first name to jump to mind, but she was very funny, and had a great chemistry with Roger Moore. Played by Britt Ekland (first famous for her marriage to Peter Sellers), Mary Goodnight was Bond's clumsy assistant in 1974's The Man with the Golden Gun.
Mary Goodnight was featured in several of the Ian Fleming novels, but only appeared once in the film series. However, the writers still managed to squeeze in plenty of funny situations. In one scene, Goodnight goes into Bond's room, planning to spend the night. Unfortunately for her, Miss Anders (from whom Bond needs information) enters the room, and Bond locks Goodnight in the wardrobe!
#6 Anya Amasova
Actress:
Barbara BachMovie: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Played by Barbara Bach and appearing in 1977's The Spy Who Loved Me, Amasova is one of the few early matches for Bond. Bond is almost killed by her boyfriend in the Austrian alps, and when they first meet, her men take care of Bond while she casually walks away. They then discover that they must work together, and the two compete to impress their respective bosses.
When Anya discovers that Bond killed her boyfriend, she vows to kill him when the mission is over. Instead, she develops feelings for Bond, and when the moment comes, she shoots the cork out of his Champagne instead. An intriguing character, that really helps to make the film.
#5 Vesper Lynd
Actress:
Eva GreenMovie: Casino Royale (2006)
When Casino Royale was released in 2006, it was a welcome reboot of the series. Finally, 53 years after its publication, Casino Royale was given a proper treatment. It was the first Bond film in decades to make extensive use of an Ian Fleming story, something that greatly helped the introduction of Daniel Craig as 007.
Vesper Lynd was the first Bond girl of the novels, and one of Ian Flemings' stronger female characters. In a fantastic casting decision, French actress Eva Green was chosen to play Vesper in the film. Witty and deep, Eva lent a more natural beauty not usually associated with the role.
#4 Tracy
Actress:
Diana RiggMovie: On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
If there was ever a girl that James Bond really fell for, it has to have been Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo, later known as Tracy Bond, after their marriage. When Bond first meets her, he saves her from a suicide attempt, as Tracy tries to drown herself in the sea.
For the first time in the series, Bond gets caught up with some thugs, and the girl gets away. This was even made into a joke, as new actor George Lazenby quips, "This never happened to the other fellow", referring to Sean Connery. The two slowly fall in love throughout the film, and Tracy is tragically killed minutes after their marriage, by Bond's nemesis Blofeld.
Appearing in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Tracy was played by English actress Diana Rigg, who like Honor Blackman, was also fresh of the set of The Avengers. Rigg and Lazenby shared some real chemistry on screen, and Tracy Bond was the Bond girl most true to her character from the Ian Fleming novels.
Tracy Bond is also the most referenced Bond girl in the series. She is mentioned explicitly by Anya Amasova in The Spy Who Loved Me, Bond visits her grave in For Your Eyes Only, Felix Leiter mentions her in Licence to Kill, and she is also subtly referenced in The World is Not Enough and Goldeneye.
#3 Jill Masterson
Actress:
Shirley EatonMovie: Goldfinger (1964)
Shirley Eaton played the golden girl Jill Masterson in Goldfinger in 1964, and was one of the first throw away Bond girls. Bond breaks into Auric Goldfinger's hotel suite, and catches Masterson helping him cheat at cards by using binoculars and an earpiece. Bond seduces her and makes Goldfinger lose his money by threatening to call the beach police. All the time she is in her underwear.
To get his revenge, Goldfinger kills her and paints her entire body in gold paint. This image of the golden girl is one of the most memorable and iconic of the series, and Shirley Eaton was even featured on the cover of Life magazine.
#2 Tatiana Romanova
Actress:
Daniela BianchiMovie: From Russia with Love (1963)
Played by Daniela Bianchi, Tatiana Romanova appeared in From Russia with Love in 1963. She was assigned a mission by Rosa Klebb, to lure James Bond into Instanbul so that he could steal a Lektor decoding machine. Klebb would then send henchman Red Grant to kill Bond and steal the machine after Bond had assumed all the risk. Of course, Tatiana isn't told the whole story, and believes she is working for the mothertland. Bianchi was chosen out of over 200 interviewed actresses, after responding to an ad for a voluptuous, young Gretta Garbo. The scene where Tatiana first meets Bond, by climbing into his bed, is now used as a screentest for all potential James Bond actors.
#1 Honey Ryder
Actress: Ursula AndressMovie: Dr. No (1962)
The original Bond girl is, to us, still the best. When Ursula Andress--playing Honey Ryder--stepped out of the sea in a white bikini, she set a standard for every Bond girl to follow. Complete with a hunting knife and sea shells, Honey Ryder may not be as iconic as the golden girl, but the scene still remains one of the most memorable of Dr. No, and the series as a whole.
From the first moment on the beach, until the final scenes of the film, with Bond and Honey drifting off into the sea in a boat with no fuel, Ursula Andress did justice to the character from the novel. Ian Fleming liked her so much that he mentioned her in his novel On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
