15 Bond Girls Behind the Scenes: A Look Over 007's Decades in James Bond

      Bond girls are integral to the 007 films, just as much as James Bond himself. Here, we present 18 Bond girls that fans of the franchise will recognize for their notable roles throughout its enduring history.

      But First, Let’s Acknowledge ‘Bond Girls’

      Sean Connery and Ursula Andress in Dr. No. United Artists – Credit: C/O

      While the term is outdated, it has persisted. By watching all the Bond films — starting with the 1962 classic Dr. No — one can easily identify the evolving societal perceptions of women's roles within both our culture and Bond's universe.

      Regardless of their motivations—whether for personal gain, their countries, or, at times, for James Bond himself—Bond girls add intrigue, sophistication, and tension to tales of glamour and espionage.

      Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder in Dr. No (1962)

      United Artists

      Although she was preceded on screen by Sylvia Trench and Miss Taro, Honey Ryder, portrayed by a dubbed Ursula Andress and a Jamaican shell diver, is often regarded as the first Bond girl.

      This reputation may stem from her memorable debut in Dr. No, where she emerges from the sea in a white bikini and belt, carrying shells.

      Her chemistry with Bond serves as a pivotal element of Dr. No, the film that initiated one of the most successful and longest-running film franchises.

      Honor Blackman as P—- Galore in Goldfinger (1963)

      United Artists

      Honor Blackman, rehearsing a well-known fight scene with Sean Connery, has arguably the most famous moniker of all Bond girls—though we might not be able to publish it here due to the sensitivities of some of our syndication partners.

      Nevertheless, Blackman, also recognized for her role in the TV series The Avengers, stands as one of the most iconic Bond girls—an empowered woman who can definitely hold her own against Bond or anyone else.

      Also Read: 12 Behind the Scenes Goldfinger Images

      Shirley Eaton as Jill Masterson in Goldfinger (1964)

      United Artists

      Shirley Eaton portrayed Jill Masterson, the aide to the villain who lends his name to Goldfinger. After spending a night with Bond, he enacts a cruel and colorful revenge by having her killed through “skin suffocation” from being painted gold.

      This iconic image was significant enough to land Eaton on the cover of LIFE magazine on November 6, 1964.

      For those curious, applying all that gold paint took roughly 90 minutes. Makeup artist Paul Rabiger, who also worked on the Bond films Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, and From Russia With Love, was responsible for the task.

      Claudine Auger as Domino in Thunderball (1965)

      United Artists

      Claudine Auger, who was crowned Miss France Monde in 1958 and finished as the first runner-up in the 1958 Miss World competition, secured the role of Dominique “Domino” Derval in Thunderball, the fourth film in the series.

      Her chemistry with Sean Connery, both on-screen and off, was palpable.

      Later, she took part in the 1966 WWII drama Triple Cross and appeared alongside fellow Bond girl Ursula Andress in the 1968 Italian comedy Anyone Can Play.

      Diana Rigg as Tracy di Vicenzo in Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

      United Artists

      Diana Rigg is notable as the first Bond girl who arguably surpassed her co-star in fame: She was already a lead in The Avengers when cast opposite George Lazenby, the new Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Lazenby, an Australian model, had just a single outing as Bond before Connery returned for Diamonds Are Forever.

      Rigg holds the unique distinction of being the only woman who marries Bond—tragically, she is murdered mere moments after their wedding, making On Her Majesty’s Secret Service one of the most somber entries in the franchise.

      Nevertheless, Rigg continued to thrive, with numerous post-Bond roles including Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones, and she featured prominently in Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho, completed shortly before her passing.

      Also Read: All 007 Bond Actors Ranked

      Gloria Hendry as Rosie Carver in Live and Let Die (1972)

      United Artists

      Live and Let Die marked Roger Moore's debut as Bond, produced during the height of the Blaxploitation era and including various nods to Black culture, with Gloria Hendry playing Rosie Carver, the first Black woman to have a romantic relationship with 007 on screen.

      While one might suggest Jane Seymour’s Solitaire as the film’s standout Bond girl, we do not have an accompanying image of her behind the scenes next to a pinball machine in an iconic 1970s pose.

      Maud Adams as Andrea Anders and Britt Ekland as Mary Goodnight in The Man With The Golden Gun (1974