One of the most important elements of making a movie is the chemistry between the lead actors, the way they click on screen together. For example, casting for Luke, Han, and Leia in the original Star Wars was famously decided not by who were the best actors but by which group of actors had the best spark between them.
James Bond movies are no exception. Bond Women aren't just there for their looks, they have to be a good match for their leading man, both romantically and adversarially. For decades, these talented actresses have both sold Bond's desirability and opposed him to various degrees. With the franchise now in a transition period, now is the perfect time to reflect on the great pairings of Bond film past.
Maryam d'Abo starred as Kara Milovy in 1987's The Living Daylights. With the departure of Roger Moore, the film was to mark a new beginning for Bond films. Pierce Brosnan was to appear in The Living Daylights as 007 for the first time, but a contract with Remington Steele kept him out of the role. In stepped Timothy Dalton to appear opposite d'Abo.
The pair proved to have great chemistry, executing the film's many tender moments to perfection. Though Dalton's Bond is one of the most brutal of them all, he came off as an affectionate guardian to the vulnerable Kara. The connection between the actors also proved vital in moments when the character had to be deceptive.
The Spy Who Loved Me gave Bond a love interest so brilliant it's hard to believe no one had thought of it before. Barbara Bach took on the role of Anya Armasova aka Agent Triple X, a soviet secret agent whose lover had been killed by Bond in the opening scene of the film. Bach had mostly starred in Italian films up until this point and her move to American cinema would lead to her marriage with Ringo Starr.
Barbara Bach gave an outstanding and totally believable performance as the Russian superspy. Her relationship with Roger Moore's Bond takes on many colors throughout the film and the pair of actors executed them all flawlessly. They start off as rival agents but each gain the respect of the other and become allies and warm friends. When Armasova discovers that Bond killed her lover, she vows to kill him, though Roger Moore's Bond manages to charm his way out of it.
In the opening minutes of Dr. No, audiences were given an iconic introduction to Sean Connery's James Bond. Bond is playing Baccarat at a club and while lighting a cigar, he says the famous lines, "Bond, James Bond." But as important as Sean Connery's performance was to the scene, the performance of Eunice Gayson sitting across from his was just as important.
Gayson played Silvia Trench, the first-ever Bond girl, and her confidence and flirtatiousness terrifically helped to sell Bond as a charming and desirable man. When Connery was having trouble with the vital line, she took him out for a drink to settle his nerves and Connery came back and nailed it, as reported by Express. Gayson reappeared in From Russia With Love and was to be Bond's ongoing girlfriend, but scheduling conflicts kept her out of Goldfinger.
No woman has been in more Bond films or worked with more 007s than Lois Maxwell. This Canadian character actor appeared in the first 14 Bond movies plus Operation Kid Brother and the semi-documentary, Welcome to Japan Mr. Bond. As Moneypenny, she had an important recurring role of female support and further sold Bond's desirability through their fun flirtatious banter.
Moneypenny is one of the most beloved characters in the franchise and Maxwell's chemistry with her various 007s was a big part of that. Even from Connery's first outing, it was clear that Moneypenny and Bond had a long and warm friendship. Her chemistry with Moore was particularly special, and while the producers tried to introduce younger women, it was the spark between Moore and Maxwell that stood out.
Maud Adams first appears alongside Roger Moore in 1974's The Man With The Golden Gun and was completely convincing in the role of the trapped and tortured girlfriend of Bond's nemesis. The poor character had her arm twisted by Bond in a scene that the charming Roger Moore was very uncomfortable shooting, according to What Culture.
During pre-production for 1983's Octopussy, Adams was asked to screen test potential Bonds, according to Express. She was soon cast as the film's title character after an arduous casting process left producers unsatisfied. It was a masterstroke, as her scenes with Moore were oozing with chemistry. Two years later, she appeared in a third Roger Moore Bond film with a cameo in A View to a Kill.
By the time she was cast in Goldfinger, Honor Blackman had already done her fair share of high-profile work. In Jason and the Argonauts, she played the Goddess Hera, who guides the title character in his life and journey. She also starred in the TV show The Avengers and was to star in an Avengers theatrical film before she landed the role of Pussy Galore.
Opposite Sean Connery, Blackman made for one of the most unique, strongest, and iconic Bond women of all time. Connery seems to light up every time he sees her. She does just enough to pique his interest, only to shut him down by telling him that she is immune to his charm. The Guardian points out that in the original book she was clearly defined as a lesbian, but in the film version, this was only hinted at.
When Casino Royale kicked off the new era of Bond, it nailed every aspect, including the casting of Eva Green as Vesper Lynd. Green had risen to prominence with a starring role in Kingdom of Heaven the year before and has since become a recognizable name in Hollywood by appearing in numerous Tim Burton films and in Penny Dreadful.
Her character has one of the best arcs of any Bond girl and Green is completely convincing in every step of Lynd's relationship with Bond. The pair start off with an electric scene where Lynd criticizes and challenges Bond. The lively spark between the pair persists throughout both the tender moments and the bitter. Finally, her coerced betrayal and suicide are both effective and heartbreaking.
Dutch Actress Famke Janssen electrified Goldeneye with her performance as Xenia Onatopp. She and leading man Pierce Brosnan share an electric flirtatiousness and rivalry from the first glimpse. It's completed convincing that she wants to both sleep with Bond and kill him, appropriate for a character who is turned on by violence and kills men by strangling them with her thighs.
While many Bond girls have had a hard time finding work post 007, Famke Janssen has seemingly made a conscious effort to explore a diverse collection of roles including City of Industry, Celebrity, and House on Haunted Hill. Her most high-profile work since has included the X-Men series and the Taken films.
1995's Goldeneye sought to bring 007 into a new era and one way of doing that was by introducing a female M played by Judi Dench. This decision was likely inspired by MI5's first-ever female Director-General, Stella Rimington. Dench was hugely popular in the Bond films and beyond, as she was nominated for six academy awards during her tenure as M alone, winning for Shakespeare in Love.
Dench's M is not afraid to go toe-to-toe with Bond, calling Pierce Brosnan's 007 a "sexist, misogynist dinosaur" in Goldeneye and being unafraid to send him out to his death. In the interim years, her attitude began to soften toward 007, but M and Bond began to butt heads again with the arrival of Daniel Craig. The pair had lively chemistry on screen and it's one reason why Skyfall was one of the most popular Bond films ever.
Ana de Armas lit up the screen as Paloma in Daniel Craig's final outing, No Time To Die. Her portrayal of a quirky yet confident rookie was completely fresh in the world of Bond girls. She also handlers herself terrifically in the big shootout fight scene in Cuba, behind the scenes footage confirms that she was having a lot of fun.
The chemistry between de Armas and Craig is stupendous. They really nail the moments of action and humor, and sharing a bottle of rum mid-fight was a nice touch. The pair had actually worked together on Knives Out and it was that experience that led to Craig recommending her for the role of Paloma, as reported by the LA Times. One of the most popular supporting characters of Craig's tenure, fans are dying for her to get her own spinoff.
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