British actress Honor Blackman, one of the James Bond girls most famous for her role as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger , died Monday at the age of 94, her family announced.
"She died peacefully, of natural causes, in her house in Sussex (South of England), surrounded by her family," said in a statement her two adopted children, Barnaby and Lottie, and her four grandchildren.
She had replied to Sean Connery
Honor Blackman became a real star in 1964, playing at the age of 38 Pussy Galore, partner of the British spy James Bond, then played by Sean Connery, in Goldfinger , the third installment of the series.
If her character ends up yielding to the charms of the spy, the scene where she rejects his advances of an impeccable martial art catch, landing James Bond on the straw of a barn, is one of the most famous of franchise.
"An actress with an extremely prolific talent"
"In addition to being an adored mother and grandmother, Honor was an actress with an extremely prolific talent", paid tribute to her children, according to whom "beauty, the brain and physical prowess" rubbed shoulders with her "a unique voice and a true work ethic".
Honor Blackman also played in many "theatrical productions of our time", they said, such as My Fair Lady , The Sound of Music, or Cabaret .
The actress was also known for playing Cathy Gale in the 1960s series The Avengers . The producers of the Bond saga, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, paid tribute on Twitter to a "cinema icon" and to his "extraordinary talent". "Farewell, Honor Blackman," tweeted British actor David Walliams. "She will live forever as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger ".