James Bond actress Tania Mallet has died at the age of 77.
Tania was best known for her role as Tilly Masterson in Goldfinger, in which she starred opposite Sean Connery.
Her death was confirmed on the official James Bond Twitter page on Sunday night.
They wrote: “We are very sorry to hear that Tania Mallet who played Tilly Masterson in GOLDFINGER has passed away. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time.”
Goldfinger proved to be Tania’s sole big-screen role, instead choosing to return to her modelling career when filming on the James Bond film was complete.
Back in 2003, Tania explained: “Filming had been an interesting experience but I was always more comfortable in a small studio with just the photographer and his assistant. Besides which, the restrictions placed on me for the duration of the filming grated, were dreadful and I could not anticipate living my life like that.”
She also noted that she could earn more in a day modelling than the £150 per week she gained from her role as Tilly Masterson, describing the experience as a “sacrifice” financially.
Prior to landing the role of Tilly, Tania auditioned for a role in another Bond film, To Russia With Love, which eventually went to Daniela Bianchi.
Tania’s cousin is the actress Dame Helen Mirren, who mentioned her in her autobiography, describing her as “loyal and generous”. She also noted that Tania supported her mother and paid for her brother’s education with the money she earned from modelling.
