Actress Honor Blackman, best known for her portrayal of Bond girl Pussy Galore in “Goldfinger” and her recurring role in the TV series “The Avengers,” died of natural causes on Sunday. She was 94.
Blackman’s family confirmed the news to The Guardian, commending her “beauty, brains and physical prowess.”
“As well as being a much-adored mother and grandmother, Honor was an actor of hugely prolific creative talent; with an extraordinary combination of beauty, brains and physical prowess, along with her unique voice and a dedicated work ethic, she achieved an unparalleled iconic status in the world of film and entertainment and with absolute commitment to her craft and total professionalism in all her endeavours she contributed to some of the great films and theatre productions of our times,” her family said in a statement to The Guardian.
Blackman was born in Plaistow, Essex. She studied acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama before securing small roles in television and film.
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After working professionally for 15 years, her breakthrough role came in 1962 when she was cast as the judo-master anthropologist Dr. Cathy Gale on the television series “The Avengers.”
In 1964, Blackman’s popularity on the program and demonstrable martial arts skills led to her casting as Pussy Galore in the third James Bond film, “Goldfinger.”
Blackman’s worked in theater, television and film throughout her remaining career, portraying the goddess Hera in 1963’s “Jason and the Argonauts,” acting in the main cast of the 1990’s sitcom “The Upper Hand” and playing roles in theatrical revivals of “Cabaret,” “My Fairy Lady” and “The Sound of Music,” as well as her one-woman show “Word of Honor” in 2006.
Blackman is survived by her two adopted children, Lottie and Barnaby, as well as her grandchildren, Daisy, Oscar, Olive and Toby.
