We all know Bond Girls Are Forever.
Maryam D’Abo’s exceptional documentary of the same name was exploring this very phenomenon twenty years ago. Of course, we are all aware of the legacy of this iconic title, along with every stereotype associated with it. The beauty, the glamour, the inimitable sex appeal.
But what do we find beyond the stereotype, when you move past the limited ideology of a sex symbol and find the real life women who brought energy, vibrancy and empowerment to these roles? Look just a little further and you’ll find that this idea of a Bond Girl is home to a diverse group of women, each representing a different way to be empowered, seductive and iconic.
I had both the stereotypes and the diversity in mind when I first approached the substantial task of interviewing numerous Bond Girls on the red carpet at 007GB’s inaugural gala on the HMS Belfast. Like any mission, my time was limited. I’d have just a few minutes with each Bond Girl, with most interviewees being interviewed in small groups. I got excited at this opportunity; there’s nothing quite like a good group discussion to help conversation flow more naturally.
Thankfully, a lifetime of adoring the films, books and video games that brought James Bond’s world colliding exquisitely into mine set me up nicely for some personal questions. I peppered my crib sheet for the night with specific questions for each Bond Girl that related to their unique characters, experiences and eras of the franchise. Knowing I’d be met with a sea of glamorous women, I took the opportunity to dress up to the nines myself; a slim-fitted sequin dress, heels and dark lipstick certainly did the trick.
Some highlights included going into rather technical detail on the wardrobe scene between Roger Moore and Madeline Smith in Live and Let Die, hearing Madeline’s captivating tales of that magnetic experience. Or delving into the surreality with Martine Beswicke on filming a now iconic fight scene in From Russia With Love, becoming part of the legacy of such an iconic film and inevitably changing her life forever.
With Carole Ashby, Alison Worth and Valerie Leon on the red carpet, I could also ask a question I’ve always wanted to know the answer to: “What’s it like being asked back to be a Bond Girl for a second time?” It speaks highly of the camaraderie on set and behind the scenes of each film that so many women have returned to the franchise time and again.
The night flew by, and in-between interviews with more Bond icons including John Glen, John Moreno, Paul Weston and David and Anthony Meyer, I grew to love the connection between the Bond Girls. Though their experiences may have been separated by production or decade, in the years since shooting their Bond films the lives of many Bond Girl actresses have crossed paths on numerous occasions. The result of this? A global friendship between them all, one that spans generations, all connected by their unique experiences of being a Bond Girl.
You can find the full interviews from the night on the YouTube channel of 007GB to discover these moments for yourself. But just to get you a little excited, here are just a few highlights:
● Caroline Munro and I discussed the evolution of the Bond Girl over the decades.
● How Safira Afzal felt about taking on the task of becoming a Bond Girl as her very first on-screen role!
● Valerie Leon’s passionate words on what it means to be a Bond Girl, for life.
● Discover everything about Martine Beswicke’s experience as a Bond Girl, which she describes as “thrilling!”
● Alison Worth describes the incredible, globe-trotting experience of being cast in multiple Bond films.
I could go on.
But something tells me the sharp-minded agents of this club will want to discover more answers themselves.
As for me, my journey into the world of Bond Girls had only just begun. As I walked off of a now quiet HMS Belfast, with a sea of happy Bond fans around me, I felt a quiet confidence. I was one step closer to understanding the power that comes through the title of being a Bond Girl.
Not only did I get to spend an evening in the company of so many iconic women who have inspired me all my life, I also got to reunite with many of them at another 007GB event at The Belfry just a couple of months later.
Last modified: 13 January 2026
