Ursula Andress in Dr. No: Behind-the-Scenes Images of Bond Girl 001

      With Dr. No, Ursula Andress set the benchmark for Bond girls in every subsequent James Bond film.

      Here are 12 behind-the-scenes photos of her from the set of the initial 007 movie.

      Let’s get started.

      But First

      United Artists – Credit: C/O

      Indeed, Ursula Andress, who portrays Honey Ryder in Dr. No, is preceded by Sylvia Trench (Eunice Gayson, left) and Miss Taro (Zena Marshall, above center).

      While both of these characters contribute significantly to the film, Ryder (Andress, above right) stands out as the more prominent and iconic character.

      On the ground, of course, is Sean Connery as James Bond, featured in a Dr. No promotional photo.

      Enter Bearing Shells

      United Artists

      Honey Ryder's profession is shell diving, and true to form, she enters Dr. No carrying shells.

      If her initial costume in the film — a white swimsuit and belt — appears a bit revealing, remember that in the Ian Fleming novel that inspired Dr. No, she only dons the belt.

      We appreciate your restraint, Dr. No. Although we suspect the 1963 censors might have played a role in that choice.

      ‘It Was Going to Be a Low-Budget Flop’

      United Artists – Credit: C/O

      The sequence featuring Ryder coming out of the water while singing “Underneath the Mango Tree”—joined by Connery’s Bond—altered the film's initial expectations.

      “‘It was going to be a low-budget flop,’” remarks Chris Blackwell, son of Ian Fleming’s muse, Blanche Blackwell, in the new Nicholas Shakespeare book Ian Fleming: The Complete Man. “Everything changed when we saw the rushes of Ursula Andress coming out of the sea.”

      He continued: “It was electrifying. Suddenly, we felt, ‘Wow, we have a movie.’”

      ‘Shooed Off Like Little Boys’

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      According to Shakespeare’s book, Fleming nearly disrupted a pivotal take of the famous beach scene. He was walking along Laughing Waters — the beach where the scene was shot — with two friends and almost walked into the frame.

      Director Terence Young shouted at them to “Lie down!” which they complied with. Shakespeare notes: “The composer Monty Norman had just arrived in Jamaica to work on the music and saw Young's reaction — ‘They were shooed off like little boys.’ Ian and his friends were left behind a dune, forgotten, until someone finally came to fetch them an hour later.”

      That’s Andress with Ian Fleming, above.

      ‘This Bikini Made Me Into a Success’

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      In addition to elevating Dr. No and launching the 007 franchise, the scene also aided Andress’ acting career.

      She later stated: “This bikini made me into a success. Because of portraying the first Bond girl in Dr. No, I gained the freedom to choose future roles and became financially independent.”

      She shared this quote after discovering the bikini in an attic and auctioning it at Christie’s in 2001, where it sold for over $52,000.

      Above, she and the bikini are seen with Dr. No director Terence Young, center, and Sean Connery.

      Language

      United Artists – Credit: C/O

      Andress, a Swiss national, is multilingual, speaking English, French, German, and Italian, but the producers chose to dub her dialogue with Nikki van der Zyl's voice and use Diana Coupland’s voice for her singing.

      She is pictured above with Connery and Young.

      Chemistry, Raw Chemistry

      United Artists – Credit: C/O United Artists

      She certainly didn’t just shine in one scene. The promotional images for Dr. No reveal the captivating chemistry between Connery and Andress, which was the intended effect.

      “He was very protective of me; he was wonderful, fantastic,” Andress recalled in a 2020 interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera after Connery’s passing at 90. “He loved women and was undeniably very much a man.”

      ‘My First Film and Maybe My Last’

      United Artists – Credit: C/O

      Andress recounted to Corriere della Sera that when she joined the production, “I didn’t know Sean, and I believed it would be my first film and potentially my last.

      “However, it took off, and the chemistry between us clicked; it was the perfect blend.”

      At Sea

      United Artists – Credit: C/O

      She added in the Corriere della Sera story: “We spent many evenings together, and he would invite me everywhere—Monte Carlo, London, New York. Since we met, we’ve always remained friends. Friends, friends.”

      During the filming of Dr. No, she was married to John Derek.

      More Andress and Sean Connery on the Dr. No Set

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