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- This page deals with characters in James Bond books and films. For information about the women of the band, see Bond (band).
Bond girl is slang for any actress taking a lead role in a James Bond movie, or the character they play. Bond movies are known for the appearance of extremely attractive women in major roles (although secondary to Bond). Bond Girls are not recurring characters, and generally appear in only one movie. (Characters such as M and Miss Moneypenny are not usually thought of as Bond Girls). Bond Girl characters often have names that are double entendres, such as 'Pussy Galore'.
Bond girl roles are high profile parts, and the announcement of the actresses playing them is usually surrounded with a large amount of publicity. For actresses not already established, the parts can be a major boost to a career.
Most Bond Girl characters fall into one of the categories of:
- victim rescued by Bond early in the movie
- fellow agent assigned to the same task
- villain or member of enemy organisation bent on Bond's destruction
Enemy Bond girls frequently change sides during the course of the movie. Supposedly friendly girls have also been known to betray Bond. Initially Bond girls were relatively ineffectual characters, needing to be rescued and protected by Bond. In later movies they became more equal, having special skills needed by Bond to complete his mission, and sometimes rescuing Bond. It is usual for surviving Bond girl characters at the end of the movie to express their gratitude and affection for Bond in the most intimate way possible. Uniquely one Bond Girl (Tracy in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, played by Diana Rigg) married Bond at the end of the movie, only to be killed the same day. In another unique situation, the character of Electra King in The World is Not Enough is initially established as a traditional Bond girl, complete with romantic trysts with Bond, only to be revealed as the main villain of the film.
Although it is sometimes thought that the only requirements for an actress in a Bond girl role are to look good in a variety of skimpy costumes, many fine actresses have played the roles, and have had distinguished careers before and afterwards. As of 2004 Halle Berry and Kim Basinger are the only Oscar winners to play a Bond girl.
The list of Bond girls so far:
- Dr. No (1962) Ursula Andress
- From Russia With Love (1963) Daniela Bianchi
- Goldfinger (1964) Shirley Eaton, Honor Blackman
- Thunderball (1965) Claudine Auger
- You Only Live Twice (1967) Akiko Wakabayashi and Mie Hama
- Casino Royale (1967) Ursula Andress, Jacqueline Bisset, Deborah Kerr, Daliah Lavi, and Bond's girl Joanna Pettet
- Diamonds are Forever (1971) Jill St. John
- On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) Diana Rigg
- Live and Let Die (1973) Jane Seymour
- The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) Britt Ekland and Maud Adams
- The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) Barbara Bach
- Moonraker (1979) Lois Chiles
- For Your Eyes Only (1981) Carole Bouquet
- Octopussy (1983) Maud Adams
- Never Say Never Again (1983) Kim Basinger
- A View to a Kill (1985) Tanya Roberts and Grace Jones
- The Living Daylights (1987) Maryam d'Abo
- Licence to Kill (1989) Talisa Soto and Carey Lowell
- GoldenEye (1995) Izabella Scorupco and Famke Janssen
- Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) Teri Hatcher and Michelle Yeoh
- The World Is Not Enough (1999) Sophie Marceau and Denise Richards
- Die Another Day (2002) Halle Berry and Rosamund Pike
In author Ian Fleming's first Bond book, Casino Royale, it is believed that he based the female character "Vesper Lynd" on real life SOE agent, Christine Granville.
fr:James Bond girls
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