James Bond, the iconic secret agent, has captured the hearts of many over the years, but his encounters with villainous Bond Girls add a thrilling edge to the saga. These evil Bond Girls are just as essential to the franchise as the classic elements like vodka martinis and Bond’s renowned Aston Martin DB5. Notably, some of these devious women have even attempted to eliminate 007 after romantic liaisons.
Interestingly, two distinct portrayals of Bond, Timothy Dalton and Daniel Craig, saw no direct confrontations with lethal Bond Girls. Dalton’s films, The Living Daylights (1987) and License to Kill (1989), featured Bond Girls who were not villains. Craig’s lineup introduced memorable characters like Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) in Casino Royale (2006) and Dr. Madeleine Swann (Lea Seydoux) in Spectre (2015) and No Time to Die (2021), yet he too escaped dangerous female adversaries. In contrast, Sean Connery, Roger Moore, George Lazenby, and Pierce Brosnan faced deadly encounters. Here’s a look at 10 of the most dangerous Bond Girls who tried—and ultimately failed—to terminate 007.
10. Miss Taro (Zena Marshall)
Attempted to Kill James Bond in Dr. No
In Sean Connery’s first outing as 007 in Dr. No (1962), we also meet the first Bond Girl henchwoman, Miss Taro. She serves as a secretary in Jamaica but is secretly working for the SPECTRE agent, Dr. Julius No. Miss Taro orchestrated an assassination attempt on Bond himself.
After seducing Bond, she is taken aback when he survives her plot. The tables turn when Bond, after dispatching her assassins, has Taro arrested as he prepares to face his next adversary, Professor Dent. This sets a precedent for evil Bond Girls in the franchise.
9. Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya)
Attempted to Kill James Bond in From Russia With Love
Colonel Rosa Klebb, a high-ranking KGB agent in From Russia With Love (1963), straddles the line of traditional Bond Girls. She recruits the enchanting Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi) as bait for Bond, but her loyalty lies with SPECTRE. After Bond escapes with his prize and the coveted Lektor device, Klebb takes matters into her own hands, attempting to assassinate him in a Paris hotel.
8. Fiona Fox (Luciana Paluzzi)
Attempted to Kill James Bond in Thunderball
Fiona Volpe takes the stage as a fierce SPECTRE operative in Thunderball (1965). She plays a pivotal role in hijacking atomic warheads destined for blackmail. Volpe is tasked with personally eliminating Bond in the Bahamas, showcasing the lengths to which the organization would go to rid themselves of the notorious agent.
Following a steamy encounter with Bond, she confronts him during a vibrant Junkanoo celebration, but 007 ultimately bests her, providing one of the series’ most memorable quips as he leaves Volpe in her own demise.
7. Helga Brandt (Karin Dor)
Attempted to Kill James Bond in You Only Live Twice
In You Only Live Twice (1967), Helga Brandt, also known as Number 11, is a forgettable Bond Girl linked to SPECTRE. Initially positioned as an assistant to a Japanese industrialist, Brandt is tasked with eliminating 007. However, her capabilities and ambitions land her in hot water when Blofeld decides to dispose of her by feeding her to his pet piranhas.
6. Irma Bunt (Ilse Steppat)
Attempted to Kill James Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
Irma Bunt is a character shrouded in sinister undertones in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969). She directs a group of unsuspecting subjects used to execute Blofeld’s plans. Bunt’s most malicious act is linked to the tragic fate of Bond’s love, Tracy Di Vincenzo, who is slain following a planned ambush. Despite the personal tragedy inflicted by Bunt, James Bond never gets the chance to avenge Tracy by confronting her.
5. Bambi (Lola Larson) & Thumper (Trina Parks)
Attempted to Kill James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever
In Diamonds Are Forever (1971), Sean Connery’s Bond encounters the lethal duo Bambi and Thumper. As acrobatic assassins employed by Blofeld, they provide a unique challenge for Bond. Together, they engage Bond in a gripping battle, demonstrating the franchise’s penchant for pairing deadly women with high-stakes action.
4. May Day (Grace Jones)
Attempted to Kill James Bond in A View To A Kill
A formidable presence in A View To A Kill (1985), Grace Jones portrays May Day, the loyal henchwoman of Max Zorin. Their initial encounter during a chase showcases her physical prowess as she evades Bond. Despite her role as a villain, May Day’s journey leads to a redemptive act where she sacrifices herself to thwart Zorin’s plan.
3. Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen)
Attempted to Kill James Bond in GoldenEye
Famke Janssen’s portrayal of Xenia Onatopp in GoldenEye (1995) is perhaps the most memorable of all the deadly Bond Girls. Serving as the lethal henchwoman for Alec Trevelyan, she possesses an unusual method of killing that includes physically overpowering her victims. In a thrilling twist of fate, 007 ultimately prevails, executing her in a fight amid Cuban jungles, demonstrating that even the most dangerous opponents can be vanquished.
2. Elektra King (Sophie Marceau)
Attempted to Kill James Bond in The World Is Not Enough
Elektra King emerges as a complex antagonist in The World Is Not Enough (1999), initially appearing as a victim. However, her relationship with her captor Renard evolves into a deadly betrayal against her family. In a shocking reveal, Elektra orchestrates an elaborate scheme against Bond and MI6, ultimately meeting her end at the hands of 007 himself.
1. Miranda Frost (Rosamund Pike)
Attempted to Kill James Bond in Die Another Day
In Die Another Day (2002), Miranda Frost is initially presented as an ally to Bond. However, beneath her charming exterior lies a duplicitous nature as she serves the interests of Gustav Graves. Frost’s double-cross ultimately leads to her downfall at the hands of Jinx, marking a dramatic end to a complicated character. It’s clear that as new James Bond movies emerge, we can anticipate more thrilling encounters with evil Bond Girls vying for 007’s demise.
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