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As rumour swirls around casting of the next instalment of James Bond (equal-odds bets are on Tom Middleton, although Charlie Hunnam would make us very happy to queue for tickets too), we look at the successful models who went on to join 007’s Bond Girl collective. We see a pattern forming in JB’s choice of female company…
1. Ursula Andress One of the original Bond Girls – she played Honey Ryder (possibly the all-time best BG name) in 1962’s Dr. No – Ursula had found her name as a Swiss swimsuit model before movie stardom called.
Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder in Dr. No
Credit: Getty Images
2. Aliza Gur The Israeli beauty was crowned Miss Israel in 1960 and was a semi-finalist in the Miss Universe contest that same year. She played Vida in 1963’s From Russia With Love.
Former Miss Isreal Aliza Gur
Credit: Getty Images
3. Tania Mallett The British model resigned from the runway when she won the role of Tilly Masterton in 1964’s Goldfinger.
Tania Mallet as Tilly Masterton in Goldfinger
Credit: Getty Images
4. Martine Beswick The English Rose was making a name for herself in fashion campaigns when she scored the role of Paula Caplan in 1965’s Thunderball.
Martine Beswick as Paula Caplan in Thunderball
Credit: Getty Images
5. Denise Perrier The French model won the Miss World pageant in 1953. In 1971, she played Marie in Diamonds Are Forever.
Before Denise Perrier became Maree in Diamonds are Forever, she was Miss World 1953
Credit: Getty Images
6. Barbara Bach Before she played Anya Amasova in 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me, she was one of England’s most popular runway models. Four years after her turn as a Bond Girl, she married Beatle Ringo Starr.
Barbara Bach starred The Spy Who Loved Me and was married to Ringo Starr
Credit: Getty Images
7. Lois Chiles Lois was a successful runway model in the early 1970s, several years before she was cast as Holly Goodhead in 1979’s Moonraker.
Lois in Chiles was Holly Goodhead in Moonraker
Credit: Getty Images
8. Cecilie Thomson In 1995, Cecilie appeared in Bryan Adams’ music video for hit hit, Have You Really Ever Loved A Woman? Two years later, she was cast as Professor Inga Bergstrom in Tomorrow Never Dies.
Cecilie Thomson (aka Professor Inga Bergstrom) was in Tomorrow Never Dies
Credit: Getty Images
9. Halle Berry Before she was an Academy Award winner, and way before her casting as Jinx in 2002’s Die Another Day, Halle paid her bills thanks to high profile modelling gigs.
Halle Berry in one of her early modelling shots
10. Olga Kurylenko Discovered in Russia at the age of 13, and making the move to New York at 16, Olga was the darling of Fashion Week. In 2008, she made the transition from model to actor with her role of Camille Montes in Quantum of Solace.
Olga Kurylenko who played Camille Montes in Qantum of Solace
Credit: Getty Images
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sydney born and raised Kerrie Simon-Lawrence has spent the last decade abroad where, in addition to launching and editing Cosmopolitan Middle East, she has edited GRAZIA Middle East, launched and edited GRAZIA Bahrain, and most recently, edited GRAZIA South Africa. She is currently based in Johannesburg.
