BOND GIRL DEATH
LEGENDARY Bond girl Honor Blackman has died aged 94 from natural causes.
The star was famous for playing Pussy Galore in 1964 James Bond classic Goldfinger.
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Her family today paid tribute to the “adored mother and grandmother”, who also starred in The Avengers as Cathy Gale.
They also confirmed she died peacefully at home in Lewes, Sussex, from natural causes surrounded by her family.
A moving statement read: "She was much loved and will be greatly missed by her two children Barnaby and Lottie, and grandchildren Daisy, Oscar, Olive and Toby.
"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.”
RISE TO FAME
Honor also had roles as the goddess Hera in Jason and the Argonauts and Laura West in 1990s sitcom The Upper Hand.
She starred in a string of musicals too - including The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady and Cabaret.
More recently, Honor toured in Honor Blackman As Herself, which looked back at her life and career.
Honor was born in Plaistow, East London, in 1925 to a civil service statistician dad.
Her parents gave her acting lessons for her 15th birthday and she then began training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1940.
During the Second World War, she became a motorcycle dispatch rider for the Home Office.
She landed her first role on the stage seven years later in play The Blind Goddess at the Apollo Theatre.
After a series of minor roles, Honor landed herself a job as Cathy Gale in The Avengers, where she became a household name as John Steed's first female partner.
GLAMOUR PUSS
The role helped propel her to stardom and she was cast opposite Sean Connery in Goldfinger in 1964 - taking Judo for both feisty female roles.
At 38, Honor was one of the oldest actresses to play a Bond girl - five years older than Connery at the time.
She also starred in the ITV comedy series The Upper Hand, which ran from 1990 to 1996, as a glamorous grandmother with a taste for toyboys.
As well as acting, Honor enjoyed a singing career - recording a hit version of song Kinky Boots with her Avengers co-star Patrick Macnee, which referred to the boots she wore in the show.
She also recorded a full album of tracks after her appearance in Goldfinger.
Honor married twice - the first time in 1948 to Bill Sankey in a marriage lasting eight years.
'ULTIMATE BOND GIRL'
In 1961, she wed British actor Maurice Kaufmann and the pair adopted two children together.
They split in 1975 and Honor later revealed she preferred staying single.
Tributes have since flooded in for the star from co-stars and celebs.
Actor Joe McGann, who starred alongside Blackman in the ITV series The Upper Hand, tweeted: "Just heard the very sad news that dear Honor has died.
"What a woman she was- fiercely bright, superbly funny and a wonderful actress on screen and onstage.
"I loved every day of working with her and I loved and respected her with all my heart. RIP."
David Walliams tweeted: "Farewell Honor Blackman. She will live forever as Pussy Galore in 'Goldfinger'."
Film director Edgar Wright described her as the "ultimate Bond Girl and original Avenger".
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