The Bond Girl is a controversial concept: no matter the era, James Bond always gets to save the day while women are relegated to damsel, eye-candy or—best case scenario—sidekick. (Judi Dench got to play Bond’s boss, and thus was spared the “Bond girl” label.) But the very best Bond girls could hold their own against 007 or even beat him. In honor of the ladies of Spectre—Lea Seydoux, Naomie Harris and Monica Bellucci—here are the most badass bond women of all time.
Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman)Goldfinger, 1964
Despite her suggestive name, Pussy Galore is more than just a pretty face: she commands her own all-female squad of bomber pilots and can fight Bond if he tried to hit on her (because—as the books will tell you—she’s a lesbian).United Artists
Fiona Volpe (Luciana Paluzzi)Thunderball, 1965
Volpe is one of SPECTRE’s deadliest assassins and nearly kills Bond before he kills her first.United Artists/Getty ImagesBambi and Thumper (Lola Larson and Trina Parks, respectively)Diamonds Are Forever, 1971
The gymnast body guards who kick James Bond’s butt aren’t major characters, but they certainly make an impression.United Artist/Getty ImagesAnya Amasova (Barbara Bach)The Spy Who Loved Me, 1977
This badass Soviet spy matches 007 in both courage and skill. She's the most progressive Bond girl of her time—though she loses some points when she falls for Bond, who happens to be her husband’s killer.United ArtistsMay Day (Grace Jones)A View to a Kill, 1985
The film had some serious sexism issues, but it's redeemed by Grace Jones' performance. Chief of an all-female group of body guards, villain-turned-hero May Fay has super human strength. At one point she easily lifts a man over her head.John D. Kisch/Getty ImagesWai Lin (Michelle Yeoh)Tomorrow Never Dies, 1997
Wai Lin, a Chinese spy and martial arts master, is perhaps the first Bond girl who is a better fighter than 007, which earns her Bond’s respect. Plus she spurns Bond’s advances—well, until the end of the film.United ArtistsJinx (Halle Berry)Die Another Day, 2002
The NSA agent pulls off the best Bond girl stunt: diving off the side of a cliff into a waterfall. Plus she proves handy with a knife at the end of the film.Metro-Goldwyn-MayerCamille Montes (Olga Kurylenko)Quantum of Solace, 2008
Say what you will about this lackluster movie (and its even worse name), but Camille is a great match for Bond: they both lost loved ones and are willing to kill to even the score. She is also the first Bond girl that Bond doesn’t bed.Metro-Goldwyn-MayerLucia Sciarra (Monica Bellucci)Spectre, 2015
Daniel Craig has promised strong women in the new film, Spectre, including the one played by Monica Bellucci of Matrix Reloaded fame. 'We’ve surrounded him with very strong women who have no problem putting him in his place,” he said in an interview.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
