Few movie franchises have a legacy as complex as the James Bond films – and the recurring trope of the Bond Girl remains one of the most challenging aspects to grapple with. This is made all the more true by the added spectre of the ‘Bond Girl Curse,’ which has haunted the franchise since its inception, hanging over the heads of the many actresses who have played the super spy’s romantic interests. Rumours of a curse affecting anyone who plays a romantic interest in a James Bond film have persisted, even as more big-name actresses – rather than the lesser-known stars of earlier films – take on these roles.
But now, as we prepare for a new actor to take over the role of 007 and consider how James Bond fits into our changing culture, it’s time to dig into one of the most pervasive myths in film history. What is the Bond Girl Curse? The Bond Girl Curse is a prevalent belief in Hollywood that accepting a part as a romantic female lead in a James Bond film is a surefire way to stall your career. But the myth is subtler and more spectral than just a trend of damaged careers, with many associating the often grim fates of Bond’s romantic interests with real-life misfortune.
In short, the idea is that once someone becomes a Bond Girl, she’s stuck with that identity – and the bad luck her character faces might follow her into real life. Tanya Roberts, for example, has said that after starring in A View to Kill in 1985 across from Roger Moore, she was never offered a.