These days, the modern superhero is just as likely to be a “Wonder Woman” as it would be a “Superman”. But in the 70’s and 80’s, there were “Wonder Women” like Caroline Munro who didn’t wear capes, but still kicked ass and held their own against some of cinema’s biggest baddies!
Here are “007” reasons you should love this Hammer horror and James Bond starlet as much as I do…
001. Caroline Munro got her start as a Vogue model when she was only seventeen years old.
The camera fell in love with her immediately.
002. Munro — shown below third from the left in the 1967 James Bond spoof, “Casino Royale — quickly found her way into movies “
Yes, she was a sexy “Bond Girl” – even if the film is an “unofficial” 007 movie.
003. Munro has worked with some great movie stars, like horror legend Vincent Price in “The Abominable Dr. Phibes” – playing the deceased Mrs. Phibes.
Here is what she said about working on the film – as a dead woman next to a living legend:
“The most challenging scenes involved lying in the coffin with Vincent. You see, I’m allergic to feathers and I was attired in this beautiful negligee – but it was covered with feathers! It took a great deal of willpower not to sneeze or sniffle. On occasion, I would simply have to sneeze and this would result in having to do another take.”
She reprised the role in the 1972 sequel as well, then went on to sign a deal with legendary British horror studio Hammer Films, landing opposite cinema’s most popular bloodsucker.
004. Yes, Munro acted opposite another horror legend – Christopher Lee in “Dracula A.D. 1972”, Hammer’s effort to “modernize” their horror titles.
005. Keeping very busy, Munro also starred in the cult horror favorite “Captain Kronos, Vampire Hunter”.
006. Munro showed up in a ton of great action spectacles, like the Ray Harryhausen effects spectacular “The Golden Voyage Of Sinbad.”
As you can see, the camera LOVED Munro, and so did the Costume Designers on her movies.
007. Now, reason “007” to love Munro: In 1977, Caroline got her biggest role ever when she officially became a “Bond Girl” in “The Spy Who Loved Me”, with Roger Moore at the height of his popularity as 007.
The film also offered up a classic villain, the late Richard Kiel as “Jaws.”
Of course, every “Bond girl” got the chance to wear a bikini, and Munro was no different – but she also exuded a sense of fun and playfulness that made her one of the more memorable Bond actresses.
It’s only natural that Munro’s film roles would dwindle over time, with cult B-movies like “Starcrash” and “Maniac” rounding out her career.
Ultimately however, the actress left behind a lot of cult classics to remember her by, and a ton of bikini photos as well, and for that we will always have a crush on her!