Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress)
Stats
Honey Ryder played by Ursula Andress
Born in Bern, Switzerland on 19th March 1936
Starred In Dr No (1962)
Profile
Whilst Dr No featured Sylvia Trench also as a Bond Girl, it's Ursula Andress' portrayal of Honey Ryder that most people remember as the first Bond Girl.
After arriving on Crab Key with Quarrel the night before, Bond is awoken by the sound of beautiful singing. He decides to investigate where the sound is coming from and who is singing. Ursula's portrayal of Honey Ryder probably makes one of the most memorable entrances as she emerges from the sea wearing only a small bikini. Normal by modern standards, this was deemed racy and controversial when the film was released in 1962.
After avoiding the guards and tracing through the swamps, Bond, Honey and Quarrel rest for the evening. Bond starts to learn more about Honey but before the conversation gets too deep Quarrel spots 'dragon' tracks. The 'dragon' kills Quarrel when they spot it, and Bond and Honey are taken captive. After being de-contaminated from the radioactive swamps, and shown to their 'rooms', Bond and Honey pass out after drinking drug-laced coffee. Bond and Honey attend a dinner with Dr No where Honey is taken away about half way through.
Honey is not seen again until the end of the film where Bond rescues her from a potential drowning, and they escape Crab Key in one of Dr No's boats. Felix Leiter comes to the rescue after they run out fuel, but Bond and Honey have other ideas.
About
Honey Ryder is a very independent woman needing no help from nobody. Resourceful and courageous, she makes it very clear that she can defend herself against any hostile or untoward threat when she first meets Bond. He is allowed to get closer when he comments that his actions are honourable.
Honey doesn't have any parents after her father, a marine biologist, died mysteriously whilst exploring Crab Key. She tells Bond that after her father was killed the landlord where she was staying raped her. Bond is shocked to hear that she got her revenge by putting a black widow spider under his mosquito net, taking him a whole week to die.
Honey makes it clear to Bond that she does not need supporting. She makes a point to say that she is much smarter than Bond to which he agrees. However Honey is pleased to see Bond when he sets her free from her capture, leading to them to become lovers at the end of the film.
Trivia
It is well known that Ursula Andress' voice was dubbed in Dr No. However in spite of this, it did not stop her becoming one of the most famous Bond Girls ever. The image of her walking out of the sea wearing that bikini drastically increased bikini sales worldwide! §
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