Adorable Story #81: Ursula Andress

First Bond Girl, Forever an Icon

Ursula Andress in 1960 — Photo © by Giancarlo Botti; REPORTERS ASSOCIES

Ursula Andress, born on March 19, 1936, remains one of the most iconic figures in the world of film and fashion.

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Table of Contents: Early Life / Hollywood Beginnings / The First Bond Girl / Career Highlights After Dr. No / Personal Life / Later Years

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Early Life

Ursula Andress was born on March 19th, 1936, in Ostermundigen, Switzerland, into a large family with six children.

Her father was Rolf Andress, a German diplomat, who was expelled from Switzerland during her childhood which deeply affected the family dynamic since she grew up with her grandfather as her guardian. Ursula was the third of six children: she has a brother, Heinz, and four sisters, Erika, Charlotte, Gisela, and Kàtey.

Growing up, she was known for her striking looks and independent spirit. Ursula attended school in Bern, where she learned multiple languages, including English, German, French, and Italian. This linguistic ability would later serve her well in her international career.

In her late teens, Ursula moved first to Paris to study art, and then to Rome, where she worked as a model and a children’s nanny. Her time in Rome introduced her to the world of cinema and fashion, sparking her interest in acting. It was here that she caught the attention of a film producer, which led her to get a few small roles in Italian films.

Swiss actress Ursula Andress in Italy, circa 1954 — Photo © by Slim Aarons / Getty Images

In Rome she was noticed by a Hollywood executive who convinced her to move to Hollywood and try her luck in obtaining bigger roles to kickstart her acting career.

Hollywood Beginnings

“I spent most of my time watching old Marlene Dietrich movies”

Ursula moved to Hollywood in 1955 and in early 1956 she signed a seven-year contract with Paramount Pictures: the contract did not bring her any roles though, and later in 1956 she bought herself out of it and signed with Columbia Pictures instead.

In the meantime Ursula received some publicity for dating actor James Dean shortly before his death in a car accident on September 30th, 1955.

She would later marry actor John Derek in 1957 but did not get any significant roles until 1962, when she starred in the Italian movie “La Strega,” opposite Alejandro Rey.

The First Bond Girl

Ursula Andress became internationally famous with the movie Dr. No (1962), the first Bond film, for her character of Honey Ryder (originally written by Ian Fleming after meeting in Austria the American-born Patricia “Honeychile” Wilder, extensively featured in the Adorable Story #77), a shell diver and James Bond object of desire.