I don't want to seem repetitive, talking about a theme that has been talked over several times, but, since I've already wrote about the
Bond Cars, I should, at least, say a word about the
Bond girls. The
women-objects, who add some sparkle to the movies of the saga, are, afterall, an important part of its success. Besides, they're a pretty good standard of the aesthetic pattern of the era when each movie was made: fashion, the ideal beauty of the time and other, more subtle aspects...
The beauty of these women is more or less seen as unquestionable. Some of them even posed for Playboy... So it's hard to chose them based on the beauty criterion, but the relativity of this concept is also one of the interesting questions the series brings up. I chose
six Bond girls, the ones I consider more important, not necessarily prettier or more interesting by today's standards. Anyway, if you'd like to see them all, you can find them here or here. It's all there...
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One of the "oldest" is
Ursula Andress, featured in the first James Bond movie,
Doctor No. The actress' face is melancholic and its lines are full, especially her mouth. Ursula isn't thin: she's strong, a bit athletic, even; not fat either - far from it! - but you can't guess the muscles under her skin; she has a generous chest to match the perky
brassières used at the time; the hair is long and the attitude of someone who's about to faint. Add a knee-length, tight dress in garrish
shintz and a short cardigan, or maybe not, and a bulky hairstyle and you've got your 60s female prototype!
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In the 70s it was Roger Moore's turn to play the hero and he teamed up with various actresses who personified the
hippie look of the time.
Jane Seymour was in
Live and Let Die, in 1973 and the extremely blonde
Britt Ekland , in 1974. Both are really thin, their body and face, with long, straight hair and an angelic look. Colourful, printed fabrics, exotic jewellery, longs, flowing low-cut dresses, bell bottoms and high-heeled shoes (fashion from this period makes me cringe...).
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In the next decade, exoticness disappears to give way to an almost baroque sophistication. It's Duran Duran's era, - remember? - who were in charge of the soundtrack for
A View to a Kill (1985). Bond's "companion" is actress
Tanya Roberts who was up to the challege of playing the ideal woman: a beautiful, made-up face, sophisticated hair-styles. In addition, her look is elegance personified...
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The gorgeous
Izabella Scorupco, who acts alongside Pierce Brosnam in
Goldeneye, in 1995, has a perky and independent look, a typical "modern woman", still popular today. She's as comfortable in a
Versace evening gown as in a pair of worn-out overalls. Powerful and irresistable...
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Recently, the 007 series has become "politically correct" (a rather clouded concept...). In
Die another day, in 2002, the
bond girl in action was a young African American actress, the elegant
Halle Berry. The ethnic touch suits the saga... A lot of
fitness and salads, tons of proteins, short hair, tonned body and designer clothes are Jinx (nickname for Giacinta)'s trademarks.
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Finally, two exceptional ladies, from my point of view:
Barbara Bach, owner of the fiercest pair of eyes in the entire series; and
Miriam d'Abo, the beautiful cellist from
The living daylights, in whose presence Timothy Dalton is completely upstaged, even though he plays the main character...
