BARELY THERE GIRLS
The casting of 51-year-old Monica Bellucci as the oldest ever Bond girl, in Spectre, caused a media sensation. Finally, 007 was growing up! At last, middle-aged women were being seen as sexy, too! But it turns out Bellucci belongs to a very specific group in the 007 canon: the Barely There Bond Girl, writes David Thomas of the Daily Telegraph.
SHIRLEY EATON
Her character: Jill Masterson in Goldfinger (1964)
Her Bond: Sean Connery Having appeared in three Carry On films, Shirley Eaton became an iconic Bond girl, not for the way her character lived, but how she died.
Bond meets Jill Masterson when she is helping her boss, Auric Goldfinger, cheat at cards. Naturally, she switches her allegiance to Bond. But he wakes to find Goldfinger has taken his revenge. Jill is lying dead, painted in gold on the bed beside him.
That image put Eaton, now 78, on the cover of Life magazine.
MADONNA
Her character: Verity in Die Another Day (2002)
Her Bond: Pierce Brosnan Verity is a fencing teacher at a London club who asks: “Do you handle your weapon well?” to which Bond replies: “I’ve been known to keep my tip up.” She then invites him to tie up the laces of her fencing outfit, which somehow involves a black corset.
Madonna, 57, was well known before her appearance in the film, for which she also wrote and performed a desperately mediocre theme song — and has remained so ever since. CATERINA MURINO
Her character: Solange in Casino Royale (2006)
Her Bond: Daniel Craig The first Bond girl to be seduced by Craig ’s rebooted Bond, Solange is riding along a beach in her bikini when she spots Bond emerge from the water in blue trunks that cause global media meltdown. She beds him, but there’s a catch: She is married. Soon, her corpse is trussed up in a hammock. Bond does not waste time mourning.
Murino, 38, appeared as a sexy teacher in a St. Trinian’s remake before settling into a steady career in French and Italian TV series and films.
GEMMA ARTERTON
Her character: Strawberry Fields in Quantum of Solace (2008)
Her Bond: Daniel Craig Strawberry Fields is an MI6 agent in Bolivia, ordered to send Bond back to London. “I think she has handcuffs,” says Bond’s pal Mathis. “I hope so,” he replies. Strawberry finds Bond irresistible — but the affair ends as she is killed and left on a bed, covered in oil (a knowing homage to Shirley Eaton’s demise in Goldfinger).
Arterton also played a St. Trinian’s schoolgirl, and is now thriving in blockbusters such as Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters. MONICA BELLUCCI
Her character: Lucia Sciarra in Spectre (2015)
Her Bond: Daniel Craig Bond killed Lucia’s husband, as he informs her when they meet at the funeral. Hours later, they’re in bed. Lucia does not die, if only because Bond kills the men sent to assassinate her. The effect of her cameo on Bellucci’s career is still uncertain. She is currently filming On the Milky Road.