Prologue - 20 Bond Girls

"Am I going to have a problem with you, Mr. Bond?"
"No, don't worry, you're not my type."
"Smart?"
"Single"
-James Bond and Vesper Lynd (Casino Royale)

Amongst the many heroes of the silver screen, one name has consistently delivered high-action, huge thrills and crappy jokes and has done so for 22 films.
("Never Say Never Again" doesn't exist)

Ian Fleming's literary creation James Bond is a character recognised worldwide, and the secret agent has been portrayed in the EON movies by six actors, each bringing his own thing to the role of the suave but lethal spy with a licence to kill, whether it's Daniel Craig's hard-edge, Roger Moore's constantly dancing eyebrows or Sean Connery's "I-don't-want-to-be-here" pissed off face.
The staying power of the Bond franchise is thanks in no small part to its cut and paste design template. All the films contain flash cars I can't afford, exotic locations I haven't visited and girls who would take out restraining orders on me.

Our nymphomaniacal hero has lept in and out of bed with a bevy of the most beautiful women in the world, these "Bond Girls" being an integral part of the 007 trademark. Whether helping him save the world, trying to kill him or simply screaming weakly whilst hiding behind his Saville Row shoulders, these women are as much a part of what makes the Bond films "Bond films" as his piss-poor wisecracks.

Changing throughout the decades in style, looks, personality and role, the Bond girls have ranged from horribly sexist simpering idiots with painfully rubbish innuendo names to scientists, computer boffins, deadly assassins and in rare cases, complete equals to Bond himself. Bond girls are also used to capacity in the films lavish title sequences and in non-speaking roles as hotel clerks, MI6 agents, casino croupiers and so forth. Their elegance and poise matching the surroundings Bond finds himself in whilst on duty.
One thing they all have in common, they're all incredibly gorgeous. Sexism be damned.

For your eyes only (as you're the only person who visits my site) here is a selection of twenty women who have fought against or alongside Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang since the very first time he span around and kindly shot us in the face.