Honey Ryder Ursula Andress

Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress)

Data
Actress: Ursula Andress
Character: Honey Ryder
Movie: Dr No
Date of Birth: 19 March 1936
Place of Birth: Bern, Switzerland
Height: 5' 5" (1.65m)
Trivia: Is fluent in French, Italian & German

Pleased To Meet You
Honey emerges from the Caribbean waves in a skimpy white bikini singing "Underneath the Mango Tree" in the most iconic of Bond moments. On an exclusive and idyllic beach of Crab Key, Bond exchanges pleasantries and admires the view with this brazen beauty and the first Bond girl of the 007 screen adventures. Honey is protective of her prize shells, but Bond assures her he's not looking for shells, he's just looking!

Caught In The Act
It takes a substantial period for the strong-headed Ryder to warm to Sean Connery, but stuck on the island of villainous Dr No, the pair soon find many things in common. However, it is not until the mission is over and the lovers are rescued that Bond and Honey indulge in some 'slave time'.

"I put a black widow spider underneath his mosquito net... a female, they're the worst. It took him a whole week to die."

Profile
Honeychile Ryder is the sole child of a marine biologist. Brought up by her father, while travelling from topical island to tropical island, Honey indulged in swimming, walking and plenty of play-time. The young Honey Ryder is physically fit and beautiful enough to attract any man, let alone secret agent 007.

After the death of her father, Honey quickly learned to fend for herself and is reluctant, at first, to be told what to do by James Bond. Much of her learning and worldly knowledge comes from a set of encyclopedias she had read as a child - as a result Honey is sincerely literal in thinking and frequently exhibits an optimistic and cheerful personality.

Memorable Quotes
Honey: "What are you doing here? Looking for shells?"
Bond: "No, I'm just looking."

Bond: "I suppose you went to school somewhere?"
Honey: "I didn't need to, we had an encyclopedia. I started at A when I was eight, now I've reached T. I bet I know a lot more things than you do!"

Biography
Ursula Andress was born in Berne, Switzerland to an Italian-Swiss mother and a German father. Her first taste of the entertainment industry came on a family holiday in Rome. She began as a model for photographers and artists alike, before being picked up for the movie game. Although she had had no acting experience or training, Andress thrived in the film business thanks to her simple beauty and charm.

"I didn't see Dr. No for a year, but I liked it when I saw it. It was a fun movie. I don't like the Bond movies now. I hate special effects!" - Ursula Andress

Andress won roles in various Italian films before being recommended to producers, Saltzman and Albert "Cubby"Broccoli for a minor role in their new "big thing" - Sean Connery. Delighted with her screen test, the production team offered Andress the opportunity to become a screen legend and the first (and most iconic) of the Bond girls. During "Dr. No" Andress was dubbed by voice artist Nikki van der Zyl as producers felt the actress' Germanic accent was too strong for the character. For her role in 1962, Andress was honoured with the Golden Globe's "Most Promising Newcomer" award, the very same year.

Straight out of "Dr. No", Andress received a second, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and grabbed at the chance to perform opposite Elvis Presley in the 1963 production "Fun in Acapulco" and in the same year she starred in "4 For Texas", a Frank Sinatra movie.

Back in 1957, Andress married American screen actor John Derek, who had supervised her career ever since her big break in 1962. The marriage eventually fell apart and afterwards, Ursula dated a host of Hollywood's biggest names including: Marlon Brando, James Dean and her "Dr. No" co-star, Sean Connery.

During the 1960s Ursula Andress clocked up her fair share of press attention and in contemporary times, her name stands up with the likes of Raquel Welch as an iconic '60s belle. All the while, the era was increasingly good to Andress who acted along side stars such as Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Sellers as well as being directed by the ledgendary Woody Allen.

Since the '60s and '70s Andress. reduced her film career, and in 1980 gave birth to a son: Dimitri. Ursula still remains a household name as an icon of both James Bond and the 1960s.