James Bond Girls – What Defines a Bond Girl?
James Bond girls are envied by women and adored by men. Their sophisticated beauty, scantily clad bodies and uncanny intelligence have made them as iconic as the man who swept them away, James Bond.
Across a spectrum of James Bond movies, we’ve seen good Bond girls, evil Bond vixens and sadistic henchmen, all of whom pushed fashion boundaries and flipped gender roles. And in every movie, we see James Bond entangled between two beautiful ladies who would either end up being his lovers or his enemies. In fact, nearly every Fleming’s Bond novel and short story would include two or more James Bond girls depicted as catalysts to bolster the plot.
It’s also remarkable how these James Bond girls change the definition of beauty that transcends race, color, and identity. All Bond women are considered beautiful in their own way. Always confident and intelligent, the girls in Bond’s life are no novices when it comes to sexuality. In movies, they proudly display their impressive figures in dressing gowns or, more often than not, in underwear and bikinis. One of the most memorable James Bond girl scenes is probably Giancinta Johnson’s first meeting with our favorite secret agent. Dressed in a stunning orange bikini, the first black Bond girl instantly made James Bond ‘love the view of the sea’.
Bond girls are almost always defined by names with sexual innuendos: Pussy Galore, Kissy Suzuki, Sukie Tempesta and (how could we forget?) Xenia Onatopp. The reason behind this isn’t really explained, but it’s enough for the audience to remember these girls’ names, if not their roles in Bond’s conquest to save the world. Similarly, these girls are not innocent when it comes to sexual adventures in any way. Most of the time, they actually have as much experience in terms of that territory as 007.
Though James Bond only seems to hang out with these femme fatales for one-night stands, two of them managed to win his heart and even led him to complete revenge mode. In the movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Bond married Countess Teresa, who was sadly murdered at the end of the movie. Then there’s Versper Lynd from Casino Royale, who is supposedly the first woman Bond has ever loved. However, her fiery love was also dashed when Vesper killed herself at the end.
From Tatiana Romanova to Vesper Lynd, these James Bond girls should never be undermined. Behind the sultry eyes, big hair and perfect bodies, there is an independent spirit in each of these girls. Their roles in the agent can range from good to the most psychotic, but without them the Bond movies will never be the same.
No doubt about it. The women James Bond meets are the monolithic embodiment of female empowerment. They can adapt to any environment they face. Often tough and cunning, the James Bond girls have the looks to die for and the guts to be deadly.
Dangerously beautiful — This is what defines a James Bond Girl.
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