15 Bond Girls Behind the Scenes — Throughout Decades of James Bond Films

      Bond girls are an integral part of the 007 film series, just like James Bond himself. Here are 18 Bond girls that fans of 007 will recognize for their substantial roles in this long-standing franchise.

      Firstly, it's important to acknowledge that the term "Bond girls" is outdated, yet it remains widely used. As we watch all the Bond films, starting from 1962's Dr. No, we can clearly observe the evolving societal perspectives on women's roles within both our society and Bond's world.

      Whether acting for themselves, their countries, or at times James Bond, these Bond girls contribute mystery, style, and stakes to the narratives of elegance and espionage.

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

      United Artists

      While Sylvia Trench and Miss Taro appeared before her, Honey Ryder, a Jamaican shell diver portrayed by Ursula Andress (whose lines were dubbed), is often regarded as the original Bond girl.

      Perhaps her iconic entrance in Dr. No, where she emerges from the sea donned in a white bikini and belt, showcasing shells, made a lasting impression.

      Her chemistry with Bond drives the story in Dr. No, the film that launched one of cinema's most successful and enduring franchises.

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

      United Artists

      Honor Blackman, rehearsing a notorious fight scene with Sean Connery, boasts perhaps the most recognizable name among Bond girls, though we hesitate to print it due to the sensibilities of some of our syndication partners.

      Nonetheless, Blackman, also celebrated for her role in The Avengers, stands out as one of the most iconic Bond girls — a woman who could certainly hold her own against Bond or anyone else.

      Shirley Eaton as Jill Masterson in Goldfinger (1964)

      United Artists

      Shirley Eaton portrayed Jill Masterson, the assistant to the film’s villain, Goldfinger. After a night with Bond, she suffers a cruel fate: being killed through "skin suffocation" from being covered in gold paint.

      This striking image was iconic enough to earn Eaton the cover of LIFE magazine's November 6, 1964 issue.

      It took approximately 90 minutes to apply all that gold paint, with the task handled by makeup artist Paul Rabiger, who also contributed to other Bond films like Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, and From Russia With Love.

      Claudine Auger as Domino in Thunderball (1965)

      United Artists

      Claudine Auger, who was crowned Miss France Monde 1958 and was a runner-up in the Miss World competition that same year, took on the role of Dominique “Domino” Derval in Thunderball, the fourth film in the Bond franchise.

      Her chemistry with Sean Connery, both on-screen and off, is evident.

      She later appeared in the 1966 WWII drama Triple Cross and shared the screen with 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, as the first Bond girl arguably more famous than her co-star, had already achieved fame in The Avengers when cast as Bond's love interest in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. George Lazenby, an Australian model, portrayed Bond only once before Sean Connery returned for Diamonds Are Forever.

      Rigg is also notable for being the only woman to marry Bond — although tragically, she was murdered shortly after their wedding, making On Her Majesty’s Secret Service one of the most heartbreaking entries in the series.

      Nevertheless, Rigg enjoyed a successful career post-Bond, portraying Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones, and played a significant role in Edgar Wright’s 2021 film Last Night in Soho, completed just before her passing.

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

      United Artists

      Live and Let Die marked the debut of Roger Moore as Bond, produced during the peak of the Blaxploitation era, and featured several nods to Black culture, including Gloria Hendry as Rosie Carver, the first Black woman to be romantically linked with 007 onscreen.

      While one could argue that Jane Seymour's Solitaire is the more notable Bond girl in the film, we lacked a behind-the-scenes photo of Jane Seymour with a pinball machine that perfectly exemplifies the glamor of the 1970s.

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

      United Artists

      We might have stumbled upon an even more quintessential 1970s image. Apologies for including not one, but two Bond girls in this snapshot. Maud Adams, on the left, portrayed Andrea Anders in The Man With the Golden Gun and returned in a 1983 Bond film we can't mention for previously stated reasons.