The success of the James Bond franchise is due in large part to the iconic women who came to be known as “Bond girls.” We’ve recently discovered what these beautiful, mysterious, and intriguing women are up to these days. Some of their stories might surprise you.
Claudine Auger – Domino
Claudine Auger is a French actress and former Miss France Monde. While on holiday in Nassau, writer-producer Kevin McClory spotted her and suggested she audition for his new film, Thunderball. She took his advice and ended up with the part of Domino, which was originally written for an Italian actress. Because Auger impressed the producers so much, they adjusted to part to fit a French woman. Despite her efforts to perfect her English, her voice was eventually dubbed over by Nikki van der Zyl.
Claudine Auger – Now
Claudine Auger’s performance in Thunderball was the start of a long successful career in European film. Unfortunately, she never really broke through the US industry again following her time as a Bond girl. Auger has remained close with fellow Bond-girls, appearing alongside Ursula Andress in the 1968 Italian comedy, Anyone Can Play, and alongside future Bond girls Barbara Bach and Barbara Bouchet in Black Belly of the Tarantula. Her last movie was 1997’s The Red and the Black, which featured Bond girl, Carole Bouquet.
Mie Hama – Kissy Suzuki
Before Mie Hama was a Bond girl, she was one of Japan’s most popular actresses, appearing in over 60 movies. Hama became famous in Western cinema when she portrayed the Bond girl Kissy Suzuki in 1967’s You Only Live Twice. Along with her co-star, Akiko Wakabayashi, Hama was one of the first Asian Bond girls. She was originally meant to play Wakabayashi’s character, Aki, but because of Hama’s poor English, the two traded roles and her voice was overdubbed by Nikki van der Zyl.
Mie Hama – Now
Following her time as a Bond girl, Mie Hama left acting, telling the New York Times in a 2017 article that she was interested in pursuing a normal life in Japan. Hama is now a dedicated environmentalist and advocate for the preservation of old farms and farming techniques. She is a big supporter of Japan’s natural wonders and anything having to do with preserving the environment. Hama is now the author of 14 books, as well as a television and radio host.
Diana Rigg – Tracy Bond
Before becoming the wife of James Bond, Diana Rigg got her big break playing Emma Peel in the 1960’s television series The Avengers. Rigg was then cast as Tracy bond in the 1969 Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. While it was originally planned that Rigg’s character would remain in the Bond movies for the 1971 film, Diamonds Are Forever, this idea was dropped during the filming of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service when George Lazenby chose to step down from playing James Bond.