James Bond: Ursula Andress Steps Out of the Sea in a Bikini

By Linda Haywood • August 27, 2008

In 1962, the first Bond girl was deemed racy for stepping out of the sea in a tiny bikini. Sales of the new swimwear item went through the roof and the Bond girl genre was established. Fifty-four Bond girls have since graced our screens but Ursula remains the icon of what it means to be a lover of 007.

In Dr. No, Ursula plays Honey Ryder, whose marine biologist father was killed mysteriously in the area. She helps Bond to cross radioactive swamps in an effort to thwart the plans of Dr. No, who wishes to interrupt American missile tests. Her voice was dubbed in the film, but she remains a James Bond icon.

She tells Bond that her previous landlord took advantage of her and then goes on to describe how she disposed of him:
“I put a black widow under his mosquito net, a female, and they’re the worst. It took him a whole week to die.” “Did I do wrong?”

Usula Andress - The Archetypal 'Bond Girl'

Ryder and Bond finally get it on when they escape in a boat and Felix tries to rescue them. They’ve run out of fuel, but Bond lets go of the rescue rope and lets them go adrift from Felix’s help, instead choosing to take honey below deck.