There's one essential part of a Bond film we haven't discussed yet. The Bond Girl. Ever since Ursula Andress came out of the sea in that iconic white bikini in Dr. No, there has always been at least one female love interest in the Bond films. These range from traditional 'damsels-in-distress' to more independent women who cross Bond's path. In Skyfall, there are two: field agent Eve (Naomie Harris) and the mysterious Severine (Berenice Marlohe).
We wouldn't be so crass or tacky as to try and rank our favourites to come up with a Top 10. Instead, we've both picked five of our favourite Bond girls, combined them and have listed them in chronological order.
MISS MONEYPENNY(played by Lois Maxwell, Caroline Bliss and Samantha Bond from Dr. No to Die Another Day)
Moneypenny is M's personal secretary and a loyal, trusted and loving friend to our agent. She's witty, charming and not above having a flirt with Bond. Maxwell played Moneypenny from Dr. No to A View From A Kill, with Bliss taking over the role for the Dalton era and Bond in Brosnan's.
PUSSY GALORE
(played by Honor Blackman in Goldfinger)
Ms Galore is Goldfinger's personal pilot. She is also Bond's equal. Cunning, strong and doesn't get pushed around and she has a name that launched a thousand puns. Pussy is arguably the most famous of all the Bond girls.
TRACY
(played by Diana Rigg in On Her Majesty's Secret Service)
Possibly the most important woman in Bond's life, Contessa Teresa di Vincenzo becomes Mrs. Tracy Bond at the end of the adventure- only to be ruthlessly gunned down by Blofeld and Irma Bunt minutes later. Rigg gives a strong performance as the fragile but determined Tracy.
SOLITAIRE
(played by Jane Seymour in Live And Let Die)
Mr Big's tarot card reader, whose abilities are linked with her (ahem) 'purity'. Once seduced by Bond, she is unable to read the cards. It's a luminous performance by Seymour in one of her earliest film roles.
MAJOR ANYA AMASOVA
(played by Barbara Bach in The Spy Who Loved Me)
Anya (also known by her Russian codename Agent XXX) teams up with Bond against Stromberg's plans. As a Russian agent, she is assured and quick-witted, out-thinking Bond more than once.
DR. HOLLY GOODHEAD
(played by Lois Chiles in Moonraker)
Despite the fact that the character is an intelligent NASA-trained astrophysicist working for the CIA, she makes the list for one reason- her name. Frankly, it wouldn't go amiss in a Carry On film.
MELINA HAVELOCK
(played by Carole Bouquet in For Your Eyes Only)
A dab hand with a crossbow, Melina is on a quest to revenge the deaths of her parents (who are killed during Kristatos' search for the ATAC machine). Determined and assured, she saves Bond's life at one point.
NATALYA SIMONOVA
(played by Izabella Scorupco in Goldeneye)
One of the survivors of the Severnaya attack, Natalya is a computer programmer who aids Bond in thwarting Trevelyan's plans. Forthright and brave, she describes Bond and Mishkin's squabbling as 'boys with toys' and even calls Bond on his emotional barriers.
WAI LIN
(played by Michelle Yeoh in Tomorrow Never Dies)
A Chinese agent who is also investigating Elliot Carver, she and Bond team up against the cunning media mogul. She knows martial arts and has a nice collection of gadgets. A great character played by a great actress.
GIACINTA 'JINX' JOHNSON
(played by Halle Berry in Die Another Day)
Despite being in the irredeemable mess that is Die Another Day, Jinx manages to be one of the best Bond girls. She matches 007 on every level. There were even rumours of a spin-off movie featuring her for some time.
There have been dozens of Bond girls throughout the franchise? Who are some of your favourites? Let us know in the comments below.
Keep reading over the weekend as we chart 50 years of Bond in The Watchers Charity Bondathon 2012!
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