Ever since Ursula Andress first stepped out of the ocean in James Bond’s theatrical movie debut, Dr. No, “Bond Women” have been each a relentless supply for iconic display screen characters and an ever-present staple of the Bond franchise. Occasions change, nonetheless, and whereas a few of these characters weren’t significantly fleshed out relative to Bond, there have been loads of empowered ladies within the franchise greater than able to holding their very own and impacting their tales for the higher.

Very like Bond himself, the very notion of a “Bond Woman” has advanced dramatically through the years, however all Bond eras have introduced compelling ladies for audiences to be intrigued by. From a few of the cinematic legends featured within the early Bond films to the extra nuanced characters displayed in more moderen occasions, and even some all-time greats from underrated movies of the franchise, these are the 20 most iconic Bond ladies of all time.

20 Fiona Volpe

Performed by Luciana Paluzzi in ‘Thunderball’ (1965)

Whereas she remains to be shrouded within the overt sexualization that most of the feminine leads within the earlier Bond movies had been introduced with, Fiona Volpe (Luciana Paluzzi) is a succesful adversary to 007 in Thunderball. Actually, she is strikingly much like James Bond himself, significantly in her use of intercourse as an asset to her success, as evinced when the SPECTRE agent seduces a NATO pilot with the intention to steal his airplane and the 2 atomic bombs it carries.

She tries the identical method on Bond, who lets himself succumb to her advances despite the fact that he is aware of who she works for. There may be greater than a touch of the outdated noir femme fatales about Volpe, and the motion punch she brings to the franchise makes for an incredible Bond Woman. She is, nonetheless, additionally a little bit of a wasted one, as she is shortly and too simply killed when Bond makes use of her as a human defend when one among her henchmen tries to shoot him in a nightclub.

19 Sylvia Trench

Performed by Eunice Gayson in ‘Dr. No’ (1962) & ‘From Russia with Love’ (1963)

If we’re to confer with Bond Women merely as any of the ladies who’ve turn out to be romantically concerned with 007, then Sylvia Trench (Eunice Gayson) isn’t solely technically the primary ever Bond woman, however one of many few recurring ones as properly. It’s Trench who provides Bond the thought for his well-known title catchphrase when the 2 start exchanging witticism and flirtations over the poker desk.

Trench was initially conceived as being a recurring character, an informal love curiosity for Bond who would seem constantly all through the franchise. Whereas that was axed after simply the second movie, Trench remains to be a quiet gem of the franchise’s earliest days. She is probably not essentially the most combative or hard-edged Bond woman, however she shares 007’s lustful urge for food and his knack for surprises, as evinced when she sneaks into his condominium and leaves him considerably shocked in From Russia with Love.

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18 Tatiana Romanova

Performed by Daniela Bianchi in ‘From Russia with Love’ (1963)

When it comes to the mechanisms of the plot, Soviet Intelligence Corporal Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi) is arguably the integral character of From Russia with Love. Unwittingly used as bait by SPECTRE in a conspiracy to assassinate Bond, the Russian operative poses as an agent desirous to defect to the West with invaluable Soviet tools.

Whereas Bianchi exhibited all of the glamour, sophistication, and daring that has outlined many iconic ladies of the collection, she stamped herself as one of many franchise’s finest within the movie’s climax. With Bond caught off-guard by Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya), she activates her superior to avoid wasting Bond’s life, and it’s urged she by no means returned to Russia. From Russia with Love nonetheless stands as one among the extra psychological Bond films, and Romanova is a big purpose for this high quality enduring over the many years.

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17 Pam Bouvier

Performed by Carey Lowell in ‘Licence to Kill’ (1989)

Timothy Dalton’s tenure as Bond, albeit being simply two films, is essentially the most underrated period in the Bond franchise’s lengthy and illustrious historical past. Nestled inside it are a few of the most uncooked and interesting characters the Bond movies have to supply, which is dropped at the fore in Licence to Kill because it combines the Bond film system with a gritty revenge narrative.

As Bond strives to avenge his buddy and colleague Felix Leiter, he finds a invaluable ally in Leiter’s CIA collaborator Pam Bouvier (Carey Lowell). A former fighter pilot for the U.S., Bouvier is greater than able to taking care of herself and even rescues Bond a number of occasions as they each search justice for his or her fallen colleague and trusted ally.

16 Might Day

Performed by Grace Jones in ‘A View to a Kill’ (1985)

Grace Jones was one of many greatest cultural icons of the Nineteen Eighties and her look as Might Day in A View to a Kill makes for one of many franchise’s landmark characters, male or feminine. Whereas launched as Max Zorin’s (Christopher Walken) bodyguard, murderer, and lover, she proves to be a hero of the movie after betraying Zorin and sacrificing her life to thwart his murderous scheme.

The putting character additionally proved to be essentially the most energetic and daring side of the in any other case lackluster Bond movie. From her unnatural energy to her compelling character arc, and even her eyebrow-raising intercourse scene with 007, Might Day was by far the movie’s most intriguing element and stays a defining second of the Bond franchise within the Nineteen Eighties.

15 Madeleine Swann

Performed by Léa Seydoux in ‘Spectre’ (2016) & ‘No Time to Die’ (2021)

An completed psychologist and the daughter of Spectre agent Mr. White, Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux) was launched in Spectre as Bond agrees to guard her from Spectre for Mr. White. Nonetheless, it was the subsequent Bond movie, No Time to Die, the place she was capable of make extra of an impression.

With Bond led to consider she betrayed him, the 2 characters half on disagreeable phrases earlier than re-uniting 5 years later, at which era Bond discovers that Swann has a younger daughter who could be his. Whereas Swann doesn’t have interaction in elaborate stunts like many different ladies of the franchise, the emotional weight her and Bond’s relationship dropped at Daniel Craig’s farewell movie noticed the franchise break new floor.

14 Natalya Simonova

Performed by Izabella Scorupco in ‘GoldenEye’ (1995)

Whereas there have been numerous Bond movies which have struggled to conjure up even one compelling Bond woman, GoldenEye treats its followers to 2. Whereas Famke Janssen‘s lethal murderer makes for one of many extra memorable villainous aides within the franchise, Izabella Scorupco‘s artful laptop hacker Natalya Simonova has come to be seen—fairly rightfully—among the many saga’s finest and most underrated feminine characters.

The Russian programmer pairs with Bond after rising as the only real survivor of an orbital EMP strike assault on the satellite tv for pc management middle she labored at that was carried out by Alec Trevalyen (Sean Bean). Whereas she discovered herself in hurt’s approach very often, her abilities proved to be invaluable in the movie’s ultimate act when she proves to be, arguably, an much more essential hero than Bond. Moreover, she remains to be the one Bond Woman to berate Bond for his chilly demeanor so brazenly.

13 Jinx Johnson

Performed by Halle Berry in ‘Die One other Day’ (2002)

The ultimate installment of Pierce Brosnan’s Bond movies didn’t do a hell of quite a bit proper. The story and tone had been unbalanced, the motion within the Bond movie largely missed its mark, and – contemplating the opposite spy films of its time – it undermined the franchise’s historical past of cinematic relevance. Nonetheless, it did discover one glimmering spotlight within the type of Halle Berry‘s Giacinta “Jinx” Johnson.

The NSA agent is tasked with assassinating a rogue North Korean agent and works intently with Bond to perform the mission. A tricky and resourceful operative who matches Bond’s flare for private vendettas, she excels as one of many franchise’s most empowering ladies, is the only real saving grace of Die One other Day, and even manages to pay homage to Ursula Andress’ unique Bond Woman within the course of along with her well-known orange bikini scene.

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12 Nomi

Performed by Lashana Lynch in ‘No Time to Die’ (2021)

No Time to Die is one thing of a runaway spotlight for ladies within the James Bond franchise. Along with the aforementioned Madeleine Swann making her return as Bond’s love curiosity, it additionally made the bold development of Bond shedding his standing as a 00 operative. His alternative is Lashana Lynch’s Nomi, a extremely expert secret operative who shares the cocky self-belief that Bond exhibited when he stepped up into the function.

Whereas there’s a contact of a rivalry between her and Bond initially, Nomi proves herself to be a significant ally…

Whereas there’s a contact of a rivalry between her and Bond initially, Nomi proves herself to be a significant ally, preventing alongside Bond when he launches an assault on Lyustifer Safin’s (Rami Malek) secret base. In the long run, it’s Nomi herself who requests that Bond be reinstated as 007, an aesthetic transfer that noticed many followers go from having fun with her presence within the movie to viewing her as one of many higher characters of Craig’s period.

11 Paloma

Performed by Ana de Armas in ‘No Time to Die’ (2021)

One other glowing spotlight of No Time to Die, Ana de Armas proved {that a} Bond Woman doesn’t must obtain an abundance of display screen time to make a big impact. A Cuban intelligence officer who appears utterly out of her depth regardless of her overjoyed demeanor, Paloma helps Bond infiltrate a celebration being attended by quite a few individuals in SPECTRE’s command circles whereas additionally serving to him outmaneuver Nomi and MI6.

It’s fairly the shock when her bubbly and gleeful angle subsides, and he or she begins preventing off quite a few assailants directly with such talent and experience that even Bond himself questions her declare that she had simply three weeks of coaching. Whereas her presence was solely temporary, Paloma injects a vibrant comedic levity into No Time to Die, and stands as one of many extra unforgettable and beloved characters in the complete franchise.

10 Elektra King

Performed by Sophie Marceau in ‘The World is Not Sufficient’ (1999)

Not solely a criminally underrated Bond character and a pivotal a part of The World is Not Sufficient, however the one feminine Huge Unhealthy within the franchise as properly, Elektra King (Sophie Marceau) actually made an impression. Within the movie, Bond is assigned to guard the daughter of a rich oil tycoon after her father is assassinated, and it’s believed that she’s going to quickly be focused as properly.

Whereas on the mission although, 007 discovers that Elektra is way from the harmless lady she presents as, and is definitely in league with the worldwide terrorist answerable for her father’s demise. A crafty, sadistic, and manipulative villainess, she excels as one of many extra complicated antagonists Bond has ever confronted, and an ideal adversary to usher the Bond franchise into the twenty first century. It’s a disgrace there have not been extra main feminine villains within the saga since.

9 Melina Havelock

Performed by Carole Bouquet in ‘For Your Eyes Solely’ (1981)

One more underappreciated and genuinely unimaginable Bond Woman, Melina Havelock (Carole Bouquet) isn’t actually thought-about to be that iconic a personality, however she actually must be. Good, deadly, and fiercely decided, she seeks revenge on the Greek businessman who had her father killed and crosses paths with James Bond as he investigates the assassination.

The emotional weight behind her conquest made her a scene-stealing Bond deuteragonist as she threatened to overshadow Bond along with her uncompromising nature and chilly, centered demeanor. Whereas it could have been higher had she been the one to kill Kristatos and avenge her mother and father, the crossbow-wielding Bond Woman nonetheless stands as one of many franchise’s finest supporting characters.

8 Xenia Onatopp

Performed by Famke Janssen in ‘GoldenEye’ (1995)

Whereas the Bond franchise has featured an incredible many amoral henchwomen who’ve served evil villains, none have been fairly so keen about their craft because the strikingly sadistic but undisputably badass Xenia Onatopp. The previous Soviet fighter pilot is as lethal a Bond Woman as there has ever been, as she loyally serves the previous 006 agent Alec Trevelyan.

Additionally a succesful martial artist, she thrives as a deadly murderer who appears to seek out immense pleasure in crushing males to demise along with her thighs. Her sociopathic glee at executing individuals made her one of many franchise’s most putting and memorable antagonists.

7 Solitaire

Performed by Jane Seymour in ‘Stay and Let Die’ (1973)

The primary of Roger Moore’s Bond movies is seen as one among his finest, with the story’s embracing of paranormal parts one among its most partaking facets. The main beneficiary of this dedication was Jane Seymour‘s Solitaire, a strong psychic working for Dr. Kananga.

She lends the movie a lot of its extra exceptional qualities, from its dabbling in voodoo magic and superstition to the villain’s capability to pre-determine Bond’s actions. Whereas the scene during which she and Bond make love is prefaced by a manifestly problematic ploy from 007, it does little to tarnish her impression as some of the distinctive and engrossing Bond ladies, in addition to some of the book-accurate characters from the movies.

6 Anya Amasova, aka Agent XXX

Performed by Barbara Bach in ‘The Spy Who Beloved Me’ (1977)

Whereas all her aforementioned competitors is compelling, Barbara Bach’s KGB operative Anya Amasova is convincingly the most effective Bond Woman to come back from Roger Moore’s period. The pair had a palpable pressure as feuding operatives compelled to work collectively to analyze lacking submarines from Russia and Britain whereas, on the similar time, making an attempt to outwit one another.

The movie handles the connection dynamic moderately properly, particularly via the primary half the place Amasova is proven to be Bond’s mental equal as their spy rivalry transpires. The elevating of the stakes when Amasova vows revenge on 007 for killing her lover imbued the second half of the movie with a dramatic pressure that elevated Anya to be one of many best-balanced Bond feminine characters of the franchise, and made The Spy Who Beloved Me a necessary image within the saga.

5 Wai Lin

Performed by Michelle Yeoh in ‘Tomorrow By no means Dies’ (1997)

A standard theme of most of the biggest Bond Women is their staunch refusal to only be handled as disposable eye-candy. Whether or not they’re scheming and lethal henchwomen or invaluable allies to Bond and MI6, the most effective of the Bond Women are greater than able to taking care of themselves, and few Bond ladies have embodied that succesful independence fairly like Wai Lin (Michelle Yeoh).

The Chinese language agent works with 007 to thwart a power-hungry media mogul’s plot to see the 2 brokers’ nations go to struggle in opposition to one another. Yeoh’s efficiency is with out flaw because the robust, resourceful, and combative spy, and introduced the right sort of Bond Woman for the period during which the movie was launched.

4 Honey Ryder

Performed by Ursula Andress in ‘Dr. No’ (1962)

There have been 25 Eon-produced Bond films launched because the franchise debuted again in 1962, and but all these many years later it’s nonetheless robust to surpass the Bond Woman that began all of it. Whereas a lot of the James Bond system was nonetheless discovering its toes via the early Connery movies, one factor the Bond saga bought proper from the outset was the romantic attraction, with Ursula Andress‘ Honey Ryder instantly establishing herself as a cinematic icon for the ages.

Evidently, the character’s standing as a intercourse image was cemented the moment she walked onto that seaside within the beige bikini, however she was outlined by way more than simply her look. Quick turning into an ally to Bond, the shell diver is remembered for her defiant bravery and her resourcefulness as 007 combated the maniacal Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman).

3 Pussy Galore

Performed by Honor Blackman in ‘Goldfinger’ (1964)

The humorous title apart, Honor Blackman’s Pussy Galore is broadly celebrated as one of many definitive ladies of the Bond franchise, and it’s straightforward to see why. Because the chief of the all feminine aviator crew “Pussy Galore’s Flying Circus”, she is the most effective of the franchise’s villainous henchwomen, along with her important function in Goldfinger’s (Gert Fröbe) dastardly Operation Grand Slam.

Whereas Galore isn’t exempt from the early Bond trope of fixing her loyalties after succumbing to Bond’s charms (a considerably problematic tendency upon reflection), it may be seen that she is the true hero of Goldfinger. Being the one who contacts the U.S. authorities and replaces the Flying Circus’ nerve gasoline with a innocent substance, she in the end undoes Goldfinger’s scheme whereas 007 throws a number of punches and struggles to deactivate a bomb.

2 Vesper Lynd

Performed by Eva Inexperienced in ‘On line casino Royale’ (2006)

Some Bond ladies have been excellent for the movies they seem in whereas others have been excellent characters for the franchise at a time limit; Eva Inexperienced’s Vesper Lynd was each of these issues. With On line casino Royale actively modernizing Bond, Lynd was afforded the chance to keep up a story weight that few (if any) Bond ladies had wielded earlier than her.

Inexperienced excels at bringing the character’s model, sophistication, and razor-sharp wit to the display screen with a daring and richly rewarding punch, whereas complimenting her extra putting traits with a nuanced vulnerability and depth. The last word revelation that she was a compromised double agent—and her ensuing demise—gave On line casino Royale a tragic edge and outlined the Craig period’s grittier tone.

1 Teresa di Vicenzo (aka Tracy Bond)

Performed by Diana Rigg in ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ (1969)

By way of a profession spanning throughout many years, Diana Rigg cemented herself as a commanding tv icon via her work within the 60s collection The Avengers and, a few years later, HBO’s Sport of Thrones. Nonetheless, her biggest declare to celluloid immortality ought to have come from her portrayal of James Bond’s nice love, Teresa di Vicenzo (and, later, Tracy Bond), in George Lazenby’s sole 007 outing, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

The daughter of an Italian felony syndicate boss, she was the right match for Bond along with her flamboyance, refined wit, and reckless bravado masking a tormented previous. Thus far, she remains to be the one lady within the franchise to have married Bond (barring the undercover marriage in You Solely Stay Twice), and her stunning demise stays some of the devastatingly tragic moments in any Bond movie.

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