The entertainment world is in mourning following the death of actress Euince Gayson.
Famous for playing the world’s first ever “Bond girl” in the original James Bond film Dr No, Gayson passed away at the age of 90. The news broke on her official Twitter page with a heartfelt message to fans.
“We are very sad to learn that our dear Eunice passed away on June 8th,” the message read. “An amazing lady who left a lasting impression on everyone she met. She will be very much missed.”
Producers of the James Bond film series Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli also issued a statement expressing their sadness in Gayson’s passing. The post was shared on the official James Bond Twitter page with a photo of the star as Sylvia Trench as she appeared in two of the earliest Bond films.
“We are so sad to learn that Eunice Gayson, our very first ‘Bond girl’ who played Sylvia Trench in DR. NO and FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE has passed away,” the wrote. “Our sincere thoughts are with her family.”
A cause of death has not yet been made public.
As fans of the Bond films will recall, the Croydon-born actress was included in one of the biggest movie scenes in history, where, for the first time, Sir Sean Connery first used the spy’s famous catchphrase. Sylvia meets Bond at a casino as he’s playing cards.
Bond asks: “I admire your courage, Miss, er..?”
“Trench, Sylvia Trench. I admire your luck, Mr..?”
“Bond, James Bond.”
A fact many people don’t know is that while she appeared in the Bond films, her lines were actually recorded by voiceover artist Nikki van der Zyl. Before making it big as one of Hollywood’s most recognisable women, Gayson was born in 1928 in the English city of Surrey. In addition to acting in blockbuster movies, she appeared in hit TV series including The Saint and The Avengers, as well as other films including The Revenge of Frankenstein.
Devastated fans have also paid their respects to the actress online.
One fan wrote: “It’s sad news to hear about the passing of Eunice Gayson. She will of course be forever immortalised for her part in the James Bond films in the role of Sylvia Trench. Her legacy will live on”.
https://twitter.com/Thunderballs007/status/1005447321654620161
A second message read: “Sad to hear that the first Bond girl Eunice Gayson has died at the age of 90. She played Sylvia Trench in Doctor No. And was the first person Sean Connery ever spoke perhaps 007’s most famous quote to; when asked he told her his name was ‘Bond, James Bond’”.
Another fan added: “Sad to read of the death of #EuniceGayson – the first Bond girl in ‘Dr No’ (and ‘From Russia With Love’). Great in @hammerfilms ‘The Revenge of Frankenstein’ too. RIP”.