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Eunice GaysonEnglish actress
Date of Birth: 17.03.1928
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Early Life and Career
Eunice Gayson was born in Croydon, Surrey, England.Her acting career began with a starring role as Frau Schrader (the Baronness) in the London stage production of "The Sound of Music" at The Palace Theatre. She performed two songs that were featured in the film adaptation of the musical.
The Bond Girl
Gayson was originally cast as Miss Moneypenny but the role was given to Canadian actress Lois Maxwell.However, Gayson went on to play Sylvia Trench, James Bond's love interest in the first two Bond films, "Dr. No" and "From Russia with Love." She is considered the first official Bond girl.
Beyond Bond
Despite her memorable role as Sylvia Trench, Gayson was not retained as a regular cast member in the Bond film series.She went on to star in the Hammer horror film "The Revenge of Frankenstein" and appeared in television series such as "The Saint" and "The Avengers."
Voice Recordings and Later Years
Gayson's voice in "Dr. No" and "From Russia with Love" was dubbed by voice actress Nikki van der Zyl,as were the voices of most actresses appearing in the early Bond films. However, Gayson's real voice can still be heard in the original trailers for "Dr. No."
Personal Life
Gayson was married twice:to Leigh Vance, a screenwriter and author, from 1953 to 1959, and to Brian Jackson, a stage and screen actor, from 1968 to 1977. She had a daughter, Kate Gayson (born 1971), who appeared in a casino scene in the 1995 Bond film "GoldenEye."
Legacy
Eunice Gayson passed away on June 8, 2018, at the age of 90.Despite her relatively small role in the Bond franchise, she holds a special place in cinematic history as the first actress to portray a Bond girl on film.
