Previous to “Dr. No,” Ursula Andress was a budding actress and a semi-prominent mannequin. Born in Switzerland, Andress acquired her begin in Italian footage, however her prospects grew when she grew to become the primary ever Bond lady. As soon as she had “Dr. No” beneath her belt, Andress shortly grew to become one of many world’s hottest stars, becoming a member of Elvis Presley for the 1963 musical “Enjoyable in Acapulco. The 12 months following “Dr. No” proved to be extraordinarily fruitful, because it additionally noticed the discharge of “4 for Texas,” which options cinematic heavyweights like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin sharing the display with Andress.
With “Dr. No” within the rearview mirror, Andress grew to become a star, and it wasn’t unusual for audiences to see her pop up in a few of their favourite movies, like “Conflict of the Titans.” What even hardcore “James Bond” followers may not even know, nonetheless, is that she additionally appeared in 1967’s “On line casino Royale” as Vesper Lynd … and James Bond. The image is definitely a parody of the “007” franchise and has achieved a cult following, with Andress’ look casually poking enjoyable at her personal legacy.
Nowadays, Andress lives a comparatively low-key life, having largely left appearing behind within the late ’90s. In 2022, for the sixtieth anniversary of “Dr. No,” the Telegraph reached out to Andress to debate her character’s legacy, however the star declined. Regardless of selecting to remain out of the limelight, Andress’ legacy is pronounced, having paved the best way for dozens of Bond ladies to make their mark on the silver display.