How 007's women have gone from scantily-clad to sophisticated glamour - and are now a symbol of strength, style and sexuality

Martha Eylül 07, 2021

The evolution of Bond Girl beauty: How 007's women have gone from scantily-clad to sophisticated glamour - and are now a symbol of strength, style and sexuality

Infographic shows the beauty and style evolution of the film's females
FEMAIL looks at the changing face, hair and style of the iconic females
Always in vogue and never off trend, they are the pinnacle of glamour

By BIANCA LONDON FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 12:12, 19 October 2015 | UPDATED: 12:23, 19 October 2015

For over 50 years, Bond Girls have served as feisty cultural icons. Always in vogue and never off trend, they are the pinnacle of glitz and glamour and proof that style is timeless.

Beauty e-tailer FeelUnique.com has created an infographic to show the beauty and style evolution of the film's females.

The casting of Monica Bellucci in Spectre - one of just three Bond Girls older than 007 - is proof that the Bond Girl is no longer just decoration, but a symbol of strength, style and sexuality, say the site's beauty experts.

From the first shot of Ursula Andress in that now-iconic white bikini in Dr. No to Monica Bellucci's upcoming role in Spectre, FEMAIL looks at the changing face, hair and style of the iconic females.

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Spectre sees 007 on a rogue mission in Mexico City and Rome where he meets Lucia Sciarra (Monica Bellucci), the beautiful and forbidden widow of an infamous criminal

1960s: URSULA ANDRESS AS HONEY RYDER (DR NO, 1962)

The original Bond girl is arguably still the best. When a bronzed Honey Ryder - played by Swiss actress Ursula Andress - stepped out of the sea in a white bikini, she set the standard for every fellow actress to follow.

Honey's dripping wet hair and wonder woman physique in 1962's Dr. No is still one of the most memorable moments from the movie franchise.

With a classic 60s blonde bouffant, smokey feline eyes and nude lips, her look was typical of the era.

Honey Ryder - played by Swiss actress Ursula Andress in 1962's Dr No, is arguably still the best Bond Girl

Honey Ryder's dripping wet hair and wonder woman physique in 1962's Dr. No is still one of the most memorable moments from the movie franchise

1960s: HONOR BLACKMAN AS PUSSY GALORE, GOLDFINGER, 1964

'I must be dreaming,' drawls Sean Connery's Bond when he first meets Pussy Galore in 1964's Goldfinger.

Played by English actress Honor Blackman, with a wavy, shoulder-length bob and understated beauty look, the aviatrix-dominatrix is heralded as one of the coolest 007 women.

Pussy Galore - a name that cued millions of teen-boy sniggers - is the captain of Auric Goldfinger's all-girl pilot squad, Pussy Galore's Flying Circus.

Played by English actress Honor Blackman, with a wavy, shoulder-length bob and understated beauty look, Pussy Galore from 1964's Goldfinger is heralded as one of the coolest 007 women

However, despite the dramatic entrance, Honey was little more than a damsel in distress to Sean Connery's Bond.

And - because of Ursula's thick accent - Honey's voice was actually provided by German actress Nikki van der Zyl.

The famous scene was later referenced decades later in Daniel Craig’s Casino Royale – only then with Bond in the swimwear.

According to the site, her power dressing - a uniform of tailored power suits, gold waistcoats and plunging necklines, started a new era of smart, sophisticated and increasingly independent Bond Girls.

Played by English actress Honor Blackman, aviatrix-dominatrix Pussy Galore started a new era of smart, sophisticated and increasingly independent Bond Girls

1970s: LOIS CHILES, 32, AS HOLLY GOODHEAD IN MOONRAKER (1979)

Another Bond Girl, another clunky innuendo. Fortunately the NASA-employed Dr. Goodhead was the brainiest Bond Girl since Pussy Galore.

With voluminous hair and subtle make-up, flying a spaceship and being a C.I.A office, Dr. Goodhead counteracted the typical cliche.

Givenchy designed the black satin jumpsuit won by Dr. Holly Goodhead, which symbolised an equalit to men because trouser suits at the time were a statement of power.

With voluminous hair and subtle make-up, flying a spaceship and being a C.I.A office, Dr. Goodhead counteracted the typical cliche in 1979's Moonraker

1970s: GLORIA HENDRY, 24, AS ROSIE CARVER IN LIVE AND LET DIE (1973)

Carver was the first African-American woman to be romantically involved with Bond.

With her voluminous afro, Rosie favoured a natural, dewy skin and nude lips. She often showcased her figure in colourful bikinis, white collared dresses and gold jewels.

Although her status as a rogue CIA agent suggests intelligence and guile, she was portrayed as inexperienced and rather incompetent, eventually falling for Bond's charms and later paying the price with her life.

Rosie Carver, played by Gloria Hendry, was the first African-American woman to be romantically involved with Bond in 1973's Live And Let Die

With her voluminous afro, Rosie favoured a natural, dewy skin and nude lips

1990s: FAMKE JANSSEN AS XENIA ONATOPP (GOLDENEYE, 1995)

With her sexually suggestive name Xenia Onatopp - played by Dutch beauty Famke Janssen - was the ultimate Bond femme fatale.

The former Soviet air pilot got her sexual thrills from killing - specifically by squeezing the life from her male victims with her bone-crushing thighs.

In 1995's GoldenEye Bond - played by Pierce Brosnan - asks, 'How do you take it?' to which she replies, ‘Straight up… with a twist.’

With her sexually suggestive name Xenia Onatopp - played by Dutch beauty Famke Janssen - was the ultimate Bond femme fatale

On playing the bad-girl, Famke told Den Of Geek: 'For me, the pressure was really to be as good as I possibly could. I saw that it’s tongue-in-cheek that entire franchise. It’s serious and funny and kind of silly and goofy all at the same time.'

Unlike many of the Bond girls who went on to bit parts of vanished entirely, Famke found fame in another franchise as mutant Jean Grey in X Men.

With a bobbed quiff, smokey eyes and blood red lips, Xenia was the epitome of Gothic elegance and exuberance.

Despite the rather peculiar name, Xenia Onatopp - played by Dutch beauty Famke Janseen - was the epitome of Gothic elegance and exuberance

2000s: HALLE BERRY AS GIACINTA 'JINX' JOHNSON (DIE ANOTHER DAY, 2002)

Fresh from her best actress Oscar for Monster's Ball, American star Halle Berry donned a tangerine two-piece to play Giacinta 'Jinx' Johnson in 2002's Die Another Day.

US agent Jinx enjoyed bedroom dalliances with Pierce Brosnan's 007 but paid for it by being tortured by Bond villain Mr Kil.

Halle brought the Bond Girl full circle with a tribute to Ursula Andress' iconic bikini moment - right down to the white belt and knife at her waist - 40 years earlier.

Jinx was characterised by a newfound sexual confidence and a stylishly boyish haircut showing how the Bond Girl had evolved.

Believing that Bond girls have evolved from being eye-candy to having an active role in the movies, Halle told IGN: 'Year after year, they've gotten a little stronger, a little smarter, and more equally yoked with Bond, while still retaining their sexiness.

'Now they're Bond's intellectual equals and physical rivals. What better kind of Bond woman to be than one who keeps up with Bond?'

American star Halle Berry played Giacinta 'Jinx' Johnson in 2002's Die Another Day

Halle brought the Bond Girl full circle with a tribute to Ursula Andress' iconic bikini moment - right down to the white belt and knife at her waist - 40 years earlier

2000s: EVA GREEN AS VESPER LYND (CASINO ROYALE, 2006)

Played by French actress Eva Green, Vesper Lynd tells James Bond - Daniel Craig's debut turn as the hero - that she is 'the money' during their first meeting on a train.

The British Treasury operative becomes 007's first love - but ends up paying dearly for the honour.

In Ian Fleming’s novel, Vesper says she was born on a ‘dark and stormy night’ and so was named after the Latin for ‘evening’. She’s also the origin of ‘shaken, not stirred’ – the Vesper Martini comes from her and was invented in the 1953 novel.

Sharply perceptive and strikingly beautiful, she favoured dramatic make-up and sophisticated eveningwear in dark colours.

Helping bring a bit of class to the role, Eva fought to keep her clothes on in 2006's Casino Royale, telling Guardian: 'In the shower scene they wanted me to strip down to my panties. We had a good fight about that. I used to go to Daniel and ask for his support.'

Played by French actress Eva Green, Vesper Lynd starred alongside Daniel Craig in 2006's Casino Royale

Played by French actress Eva Green, Vesper Lynd tells James Bond - Daniel Craig's first turn as the hero - that she is 'the money' during their first meeting on a train