Best Bond Girl Performances
JennyFlexFan
Posts: 1,497MI6 Agent
We've had Best Bond, Best Bond Scene, Best Fight, etc. etc. but I haven't recalled a thread devoted to the actual performance of a Bond girl in a movie, and while our opinions of these are scattered about the place, I think it would be interesting to see what our top 10 performances (NOT lookswise, but acting wise) for our lovely leading ladies! Here are mine, with short reasons.
1. Diana Rigg - Teresa diVincenzo, pretty obvious, but she's a beautiful yet independent and fiery girl ahead of her time in terms of all these qualities. Also in terms of better acting between her and Bond, Diana takes the cake, though I think Lazenby still did well.
2. Izabella Scorupco - Natalya Simonova, the modern day Tracy, say what you want about Elektra and Vesper being similar to Tracy, but it is Natalya who fits her the best. A regular computer programmer, she survives the destruction of a sattelite base, gets from Siberia to St. Petersburg, hassles a computer store salesman so she can get information and is even considered by the Trevelyan the more "valuable" person when disarming the sattelite codes. She discusses Bond's life and personality with him, she's not afraid to stand up to Bond or fight others, and she's a pretty smart cookie to boot. If Bond was ever going to marry another girl, it should be Natalya.
3. Honor Blackman - Pussy Galore, the first action woman, who was tough as nails, resisted Bond's advances and played a villainess deliciously. One of my favorite parts in Goldfinger is when she finds him out of his cell, beats him up, throws him against the wall and just stands there hands on her sides like she just scolded a bad child. It's funny how she almost looks down on Bond instead of seeing him as this irresistible superhuman guy, she sees him as her inferior, a quality that women didn't exhibit back then that started with Pussy Galore.
4. Carole Bouquet - Melina Havelock, another woman who's meeting with Bond stemmed from loss and tragedy. The beautiful Melina is obsessed with taking revenge on her parents due to the fact that she's half-Greek. A resourceful woman, able to track down Gonzales, kill him with her crossbow and when Bond joins up with her and his car is destroyed, she immediately has an alternate plan to escape. He owed her his life then too, as not only did she get him in her car, but she also slowed his pursuers with her crossbow skills. During the climb at St. Cyrils and at many other moments in the movie do you feel how independent she is, especially when being ordered to go home by Bond, while most other Bond girls would say "Okay..." she snaps at him saying "You don't tell me what to do!". Great stuff right there.
5. Lois Chiles - Dr. Holly Goodhead, In a movie as ridiculous as Moonraker, there are certain parts that make it very enjoyable and one is Goodhead. Many knock Chiles for her acting ability, which I think is great. She's not enthusiastic about Bond and takes herself and the job she's undertaking very seriously. She's also one of the others that can take on many guys in a fight. Anya was pretty good and could fight, but didn't exhibit it often enough. She'd truly meet her match with Holly because, not only was she a NASA specialist with a doctorate, she was a CIA agent who could fight her way out of any situation, specifically aboard the Moonraker station.
6. Carey Lowell - Pam Bouvier, there has to be one reason to watch this trainwreck, and here it is. Pam Bouvier, ladies and gentlemen. The "action woman" types such as Pussy Galore and Holly could bring everything in wit, intelligence and fighting and Pam has that too. But what does Pam have that the others don't? Feelings. Pam is truly distraught over the fact that James may love Lupe more than she does her (which, if I was Pam, would be glad if he liked Lupe more, since we were in the Dalton era, but that aside) and is deeply worried about his well being. She's able to con her way into the Olimpatec Institute, take on the guys in the trashy bar, use her connections with Heller to attempt a deal (which was destroyed by stupid Timothy Dalton), pilot a plane and shoot Dario. Pam's an interesting character, and if the horrible movie is going to be watched, watch it for this beacon of light in all the darkness.
7. Barbara Carrera - Fatima Blush, NSNA is a movie I like quite a lot, but it's Bond girl, Domino, while better than her TB incarnate is played by Kim Basinger before she became a notable (and good) actress and before she had a lot of image changes. However, there's a part about the movie that you love, and that is Fatima Blush, perhaps Xenia Onatopp's inspiration. Fatima is drop dead gorgeous and is a perfect wicked witch who just loves to mess up anything for anyone, especially James, who she uses to gratify her... urges and assert her dominance over. The way she cares more about her pet snake than Jack Petachi shows how inhuman she is and who doesn't love the scene when she beats up Jack Petachi? The movie really slows down when she dies because without a doubt, she's one of the most fun characters to watch in the Bond franchise, one of the most beautiful and probably the most purely evil of all the villainesses.
8. Maud Adams - Octopussy, a girl who, once again was connected with Bond through her father that preferred death rather than be court-martialed. After this, she revived the Octopus "cult" mainly to fuel her many businesses and seems to be doing quite well for herslf, showing what a smart and shrewd woman that she is. She even has Kamal wrapped on her finger for awhile, and it's obvious that he's pining for her attention that she won't give to him, showing how she's the girl who is VERY hard to get. Her only weakness is that she melts into Bond's arms way too soon. Her resourceful way of attacking the palace and courage shown while confronting Kamal show what a woman she truly is.
9. Rosamund Pike - Miranda Frost, Another woman in a travesty of a film who is the only saving grace. Perhaps if you put her in any other movie, she wouldn't be as widely praised by the Bond community but next to Halle Berry's putrid performance as Jinx, Miranda is great as the ice cold, smart and sexy MI6 agent perfect in her role as assuming the cover of Graves' PR agent, able to shut down reporters with her charisma and mannerisms, she's also quite efficient as shown by her ability to contact the club and make them forget about the whole swordfighting incident. Also, the whole fencing thing just ups the sexy level of her, and makes her seem so sophisticated in contrast to Jinx. Was anyone else rooting for her to win that swordfight at the end? Now there's a character that can get you on her side.
10. Tanya Roberts - Stacey Sutton, I might as well put her up here since I defend her so much. The 60s Bond girls may be good for the classic feel but none of them are great, and I've never understood the fuss over Andress in Dr. No, she's a far better actress and way more sexier in Casino Royale. But Stacey is similar to Octopussy, however, a much more toned down version. As I've stated, she's an average woman. You could find her anywhere, a woman who's fighting for her family and what's right in the world which could easily happen in real life is what I identify with. She's just been put in a situation she's never dreamed of, her house being attacked, dangling in burning elevator shafts, driving a firetruck and jumping a bridge, infiltrating and escaping a flooding mine and being on top of the Golden Gate Bridge! Think of yourselves doing that over a period of, what is it, three days? and not act the way she did. Stacey is the real world Bond girl that's independent, resourceful, perserverant and is quite likeable.
Honorable Mentions:
Alison Doody - Jenny Flex, a minor Bond girl, a classic beauty that rings of Grace Kelley and a soft Irish accent that is so soothing to the ears that rides horses, acts quite professional whenever given a task and handles her sexual banter with Moore in an almost cold manner, playing along because she has to.
Caroline Munro - Naomi, well she's hot. But more seriously, when she comes on screen, it's like Barbara Bach could be doing anything and you wouldn't notice because all eyes would be on Munro. Dressed casually at all times, she still finds time to do Stromberg's dirty work, introducing the professors at the beginning, picking up Bond and whats-her-name
, to gunning them down after they departed. Whenever the camera cuts to her in the helictoper, she gets sexier by the second. She doesn't have to say anything, she conveys it all by the devilish and seductive mannerisms.
Papillon Soo Soo - Pan Ho,
"Mistaaaaaaaa Sen-Jon-Smiiiiith?"
"Sinjin-Smythe, my dear."
Did I mention she makes a mean Molotov cocktail?
1. Diana Rigg - Teresa diVincenzo, pretty obvious, but she's a beautiful yet independent and fiery girl ahead of her time in terms of all these qualities. Also in terms of better acting between her and Bond, Diana takes the cake, though I think Lazenby still did well.
2. Izabella Scorupco - Natalya Simonova, the modern day Tracy, say what you want about Elektra and Vesper being similar to Tracy, but it is Natalya who fits her the best. A regular computer programmer, she survives the destruction of a sattelite base, gets from Siberia to St. Petersburg, hassles a computer store salesman so she can get information and is even considered by the Trevelyan the more "valuable" person when disarming the sattelite codes. She discusses Bond's life and personality with him, she's not afraid to stand up to Bond or fight others, and she's a pretty smart cookie to boot. If Bond was ever going to marry another girl, it should be Natalya.
3. Honor Blackman - Pussy Galore, the first action woman, who was tough as nails, resisted Bond's advances and played a villainess deliciously. One of my favorite parts in Goldfinger is when she finds him out of his cell, beats him up, throws him against the wall and just stands there hands on her sides like she just scolded a bad child. It's funny how she almost looks down on Bond instead of seeing him as this irresistible superhuman guy, she sees him as her inferior, a quality that women didn't exhibit back then that started with Pussy Galore.
4. Carole Bouquet - Melina Havelock, another woman who's meeting with Bond stemmed from loss and tragedy. The beautiful Melina is obsessed with taking revenge on her parents due to the fact that she's half-Greek. A resourceful woman, able to track down Gonzales, kill him with her crossbow and when Bond joins up with her and his car is destroyed, she immediately has an alternate plan to escape. He owed her his life then too, as not only did she get him in her car, but she also slowed his pursuers with her crossbow skills. During the climb at St. Cyrils and at many other moments in the movie do you feel how independent she is, especially when being ordered to go home by Bond, while most other Bond girls would say "Okay..." she snaps at him saying "You don't tell me what to do!". Great stuff right there.
5. Lois Chiles - Dr. Holly Goodhead, In a movie as ridiculous as Moonraker, there are certain parts that make it very enjoyable and one is Goodhead. Many knock Chiles for her acting ability, which I think is great. She's not enthusiastic about Bond and takes herself and the job she's undertaking very seriously. She's also one of the others that can take on many guys in a fight. Anya was pretty good and could fight, but didn't exhibit it often enough. She'd truly meet her match with Holly because, not only was she a NASA specialist with a doctorate, she was a CIA agent who could fight her way out of any situation, specifically aboard the Moonraker station.
6. Carey Lowell - Pam Bouvier, there has to be one reason to watch this trainwreck, and here it is. Pam Bouvier, ladies and gentlemen. The "action woman" types such as Pussy Galore and Holly could bring everything in wit, intelligence and fighting and Pam has that too. But what does Pam have that the others don't? Feelings. Pam is truly distraught over the fact that James may love Lupe more than she does her (which, if I was Pam, would be glad if he liked Lupe more, since we were in the Dalton era, but that aside) and is deeply worried about his well being. She's able to con her way into the Olimpatec Institute, take on the guys in the trashy bar, use her connections with Heller to attempt a deal (which was destroyed by stupid Timothy Dalton), pilot a plane and shoot Dario. Pam's an interesting character, and if the horrible movie is going to be watched, watch it for this beacon of light in all the darkness.
7. Barbara Carrera - Fatima Blush, NSNA is a movie I like quite a lot, but it's Bond girl, Domino, while better than her TB incarnate is played by Kim Basinger before she became a notable (and good) actress and before she had a lot of image changes. However, there's a part about the movie that you love, and that is Fatima Blush, perhaps Xenia Onatopp's inspiration. Fatima is drop dead gorgeous and is a perfect wicked witch who just loves to mess up anything for anyone, especially James, who she uses to gratify her... urges and assert her dominance over. The way she cares more about her pet snake than Jack Petachi shows how inhuman she is and who doesn't love the scene when she beats up Jack Petachi? The movie really slows down when she dies because without a doubt, she's one of the most fun characters to watch in the Bond franchise, one of the most beautiful and probably the most purely evil of all the villainesses.
8. Maud Adams - Octopussy, a girl who, once again was connected with Bond through her father that preferred death rather than be court-martialed. After this, she revived the Octopus "cult" mainly to fuel her many businesses and seems to be doing quite well for herslf, showing what a smart and shrewd woman that she is. She even has Kamal wrapped on her finger for awhile, and it's obvious that he's pining for her attention that she won't give to him, showing how she's the girl who is VERY hard to get. Her only weakness is that she melts into Bond's arms way too soon. Her resourceful way of attacking the palace and courage shown while confronting Kamal show what a woman she truly is.
9. Rosamund Pike - Miranda Frost, Another woman in a travesty of a film who is the only saving grace. Perhaps if you put her in any other movie, she wouldn't be as widely praised by the Bond community but next to Halle Berry's putrid performance as Jinx, Miranda is great as the ice cold, smart and sexy MI6 agent perfect in her role as assuming the cover of Graves' PR agent, able to shut down reporters with her charisma and mannerisms, she's also quite efficient as shown by her ability to contact the club and make them forget about the whole swordfighting incident. Also, the whole fencing thing just ups the sexy level of her, and makes her seem so sophisticated in contrast to Jinx. Was anyone else rooting for her to win that swordfight at the end? Now there's a character that can get you on her side.
10. Tanya Roberts - Stacey Sutton, I might as well put her up here since I defend her so much. The 60s Bond girls may be good for the classic feel but none of them are great, and I've never understood the fuss over Andress in Dr. No, she's a far better actress and way more sexier in Casino Royale. But Stacey is similar to Octopussy, however, a much more toned down version. As I've stated, she's an average woman. You could find her anywhere, a woman who's fighting for her family and what's right in the world which could easily happen in real life is what I identify with. She's just been put in a situation she's never dreamed of, her house being attacked, dangling in burning elevator shafts, driving a firetruck and jumping a bridge, infiltrating and escaping a flooding mine and being on top of the Golden Gate Bridge! Think of yourselves doing that over a period of, what is it, three days? and not act the way she did. Stacey is the real world Bond girl that's independent, resourceful, perserverant and is quite likeable.
Honorable Mentions:
Alison Doody - Jenny Flex, a minor Bond girl, a classic beauty that rings of Grace Kelley and a soft Irish accent that is so soothing to the ears that rides horses, acts quite professional whenever given a task and handles her sexual banter with Moore in an almost cold manner, playing along because she has to.
Caroline Munro - Naomi, well she's hot. But more seriously, when she comes on screen, it's like Barbara Bach could be doing anything and you wouldn't notice because all eyes would be on Munro. Dressed casually at all times, she still finds time to do Stromberg's dirty work, introducing the professors at the beginning, picking up Bond and whats-her-name
, to gunning them down after they departed. Whenever the camera cuts to her in the helictoper, she gets sexier by the second. She doesn't have to say anything, she conveys it all by the devilish and seductive mannerisms.Papillon Soo Soo - Pan Ho,
"Mistaaaaaaaa Sen-Jon-Smiiiiith?"
"Sinjin-Smythe, my dear."
Did I mention she makes a mean Molotov cocktail?
Comments
Rigg
Blackman
Green
Paluzzi
Andress
Bianchi
Hatcher
Marceau
then things start getting interchangable, IMO. Maybe even sooner, like around Hatcher...shades of grey.
2) Paluzzi (though I personally think Auger is way hotter)
3) Blackman
4) Bianchi
5) Green
6) Chiles
7) Seymour
8) Marceau
9) Andress
10) Marshall
2) Daniela Bianchi
3) Ursula Andress
4) Maryam d'Abo (yeah yeah, I know, but I like her ;%)
5) Honor Blackman
6) Izabella Scorupco
Most of the rest are about the same to me, although 3 or 4 are positively annoying, but I won't go into that here.
New thread?
However, Honor Blackman's wonderful performance as Pussy Galore (another from the Avengers stable, lest we forget) is superb, as is Carole Bouquet's Melina Havelock and Luciana Paluzzi's Fiona Volpe. I thought Famke Janssen's performance as Xenia Onatopp was great fun too.
Or Frauline Irma Bunt.
Sophie Marceau. But it's difficult to give up any of the others in this list.
---1. Sophie Marceau
---2. Diana Rigg (Perfect. But not Sophie)
---3. Luciana Paluzzi (The look she gives Bond as he hands her "something to wear" is priceless)
---4. Daniela Bianchi (The best decorative Bond-girl, by far.)
---5. Carey Lowell (A personal soft-spot, though I realise she's not as sizzling as the others... must be my identification with Dalton-Bond)
Barbara Bach
Sophie Marceau
Maryam d'Abo
Eunice Gayson (DN)
Carole Bouquet
Maud Adams (OP)
Teri Hatcher
Solitaire
Melina Havelock
These three are probably my favourite ones. They're all interesting characters, not to mention, incedibly sexy. Melina has lots of guts. Soilitaire is naiive I'd say, but that works well with her. Honey Rider is hands down my favourite.
Honourable mentions to Holly Goodhead (one of MR'S few good points), and to Diana Rigg as Tracy.
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
Are you confusing a good actress with someone you fancy?
The character of Natalya wasnt particularly special. She was an E European innocent in the vein of Tatiana/Kara. IS played her very well but her character didnt really go on any emotional journey and was pretty redundant once they reached Cuba.
My top five would be
1. Dame Diana
I've just watched 'Empires Children' in C4 where she goes back to India to meet those who knew her as a child. Shes just a class act. Plus Maibaum wrote Tracy very well - theres a real emotional journey from suicidal playgirl to a woman with a future. And Rigg runs with it from start to finish
2. Eva Green
Just as good as Daniel Craig or Mads Mikkelson. A good piece of casting for once from B Brocoli. I like the character of Vesper because she is an enigma. A woman with many layers. On the surface she is prickly and has many issues. But beneath deep oceans dwell. She was secrets and lies. As Eva says she is as enigmatic as the Sphinx. And goes on a journey from spiky career girl to a woman who sacrifices for James Bond.
3. Carole Bouquet
If you check her IMBH entry Carole is a big star in France with over twenty movies to her name. ITs a shame she never talks about FYEO because I would love to know her views. Melina Havelock is pitched about right. She isnt a screamig harridan after her parents murderers blood she is a cool icy maiden set out for revenge which is much more convincing. There are little touches to her performance - her fighting back the tears in Corfu, the "you dont tell me what to do!" and that shot of her eyes after her parents death. A world class actress..
4. Daniela Bianchi
Everyone forgets about her but she does sterling work in FRWL. If we dont believe the character we dont believe the story. And it is her story. Tania is ordered to fall in love with a British agent and eventually does so. Then she has to choose between her fearful employer or said agent. Its quite a transition. And her playfulness in the train carriages is absolutely charming. An underrated actress.
Sophie Marceau
I will never like TWINE. Its a messy bog of a film with no real narrative but even I admit Sophie is good in this and even raises Brosnans performance. The ideas behind her are very impressive - genius intelligence, head of powerful organisation, the real villain behind it all, the illusion that she is indestructable, but somehow dont seem to flow. Maybe because the direction is exceptionally hurried and the audience doesn't have time really to relate to her before the next forced action scene. Maybe there is just too much packed into the film but the character doesn't seem to work as well in the hands of Michael Apted then she would have left with a Peter Hunt or Terence Young.
But hats off for trying something different. Tracy had mental problems and the literary Tiffany Case was moody and erratic but this one is a fully paid up member of the looney tunes club. Crap film but good leading lady.
Never is the history of oo7 has a female lead been so well acted. The part is also the best for a female, playing an ally who is also a traitor - someone who hates Bond but comes to "love" him. A real tortured soul. Green gives a subtle performance in a part that was made for her.
Is she the most beautiful Bond girl? - maybe not in the classic sense, but she excellently plays a person caught up in a giant mess not of her own making. A real heroine who pays the ultimate price for others sins.
Only Lotte Lenya can rival Green's acting. The Romanova charecter comes close, but that charecter was played straight, no twisting in the wind for pawn Tatiana.
Diana Rigg may be the most credited actress to play in Bond, but she never convinced me she was neurotic or in love with Bond. I always felt that she would have been great with SC, but her acting is more than old GL could handle - just no real chemistry on screen ( and apparently in real life too!)
Just look at the way two pro actors Savalas and Rigg play off each other, the same magic is'nt there with GL and Diana.
The rest of the "Bond Girls" could be interchanged with each other without helping or hurting the flick.
Exception - Ursula Andress - her debut is a moment that will stay alive in film history forever!
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
An honerable mention for Stacey Sutton, I find her insufferably irritating, but Tanya Roberts nailed the part of a screaming Blonde damsel in distress.
Best female performance has to be Judi Dench as M, brilliant in Goldeneye and Casino Royale.
Although she's not a Bond Girl so doesn't really count I thought she deserved mentioning.
2 - Diana Rigg, carried every scene with Lazenby.
3 - Sophie Marceau - Multi-layered role well played by Marceau, who genereated some significant heat.
4 - Carey Lowell - Fit her role perfectly, appeared capable of handling herself while remaining feminine.
5 - Honor Blackman - was able to pull off the the hint of being a lesbian without appearing butch.
Honorable mention - Shirley Eaton - not enough screen time to qualify, but made a bigger impact in her short screen time than most of the other lead actresses ever have.
Down near the bottom, Eva Green, Tanya Roberts and Gloria Hendry.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
I think we established in another thread that she is all yours my friend.
Well, since you chose this thread (Best Bond Girl Performances!) to re-establish your disregard, I'll use it to re-establish the fact that I'll take her :x
Ms. Green is #4 on my Best Bond Girl list, preceded by 1) Daniela Bianchi, 2) Diana Rigg and 3) Claudine Auger.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM