Items of James Bond memoribilia, including Ursula Andress’ white bikini from Dr.No, will soon go under the hammer at Christie’s in London on February 14.
LONDON, England — The white bikini that left James Bond shaken and stirred in one of the most memorable scenes from the British spy film series has been put up for sale.
Swiss-born actress Ursula Andress shot to stardom when she emerged from the sea wearing the white cotton bikini in the 1962 movie “Dr No.”
Dr. No was the first Bond film and also made into an international star the young Scottish actor who played the suave British secret service agent — Sean Connery.
The Andress bikini is expected to fetch up to £40,000 ($60,000) when it is auctioned at a sale of Bond memorabilia at Christie’s in London on February 14.
The lasting vision of the Andress walking up the beach in Dr. No has come to epitomise the image of the ultimate Bond girl.
It also secured her screen immortality — her performance as Honey Ryder setting the standard by which all future Bond girls would be judged.
Andress, now 64, said: “This bikini made me a success. As a result of starring in Dr. No as the first Bond girl, I was given the freedom to pick future roles.
“My entrance in the film wearing the bikini on that beautiful beach seems to now be regarded as a classical moment in cinema, and made me world famous as ‘the Bond girl’.”
The ivory-coloured cotton bikini, the only one made for and worn by Andress in the film, was created in Jamaica by a West-Indian dressmaker. It was specially designed to be a practical working garment able to withstand the rigours of the Honey Ryder role.
Also for auction is the pale blue towelling robe into which Andress slips after she and Bond have been through decontamination (estimate: £7,000-£9,000) ($10,500-$13,500) and the ivory silk robe worn by the double agent Miss Taro (£2,000-£4,000).
Other Bond costumes include Roger Moore’s JB monogrammed pyjamas, matching yellow cotton dressing gown and burgundy velvet slippers (£3,000-£5,000); and Moore’s dinner suit from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) (£4,000-£6,000).
More macho items in the auction include the silver 1965 Aston Martin DB5 from GoldenEye (1995) (£100,000-£150,000).
Two “show” licence plates, BMT 216A and JB 007 from Aston Martin DB5s and used for the promotion of Goldfinger (1964) and Thunderball (1965) are expected to make £1,500-£2,500 and £2,500-£4,500.
A Walther PPK air pistol held by Sean Connery for the poster campaign for From Russia With Love (1963) is estimated at £3,000-£5,000.
Among Bond gadgets devised by the lovable Q to enable 007 to extricate himself from any precarious predicaments is his specially adapted Rolex wristwatch (estimate: £15,000-£20,000).
The Rolex, complete with its exceptionally strong magnet, was used to full effect in Live and Let Die (1973) by Roger Moore, in his first escapade as 007 — he used it ingeniously to unzip the dress of his companion, Miss Caruso, in an instant.
In response to her comment on the lightness of his touch, Bond gave the sardonic reply “Sheer magnetism, darling.”