James Bond actress Honor Blackman dies aged 94

Legendary Bond girl Honor Blackman has died aged 94 from natural causes.

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.”

Born in Plaistow in 1925, Blackman trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama as a teenager before eventually making her film debut with a non-speaking role in Fame Is The Spur in 1947.

Blackman’s role as Cathy Gale in the 1960s TV series The Avengers launched her to fame. She was also best known for playing Pussy Galore in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger with Sean Connery as 007.