Photo by P. Paterson
 
Negative Year: n/a
Print size: 29.6x19.7 cm
Style: Vintage print / gelatin silver print
Copyright stamp on verso
 
The Backstory:
Ursula Andress is known as one of the most prominent beauties of the 1960s. Her gorgeous, unforgettable scene in Dr. No may have made her famous, but she’s definitely more than just a pretty face.
 
Some not so popular facts about "The Bond Girl":
 
Ursula Andress was born on March 10, 1936, in Ostermundigen, Switzerland, as the third out of six children. She lived with her grandparents for most of her childhood and worked in her grandfather's greenhouses. And if you imagining her leisurely meandered around, smelling the roses, this wasn't the case. But the hard work made her disciplined and independent, two traits that played an important part in her future life.
 
At the age of 17, the surprise visit of a French film crew to her school in Bern changed the course of her entire life. One look at Daniel Gélin, the main actor and 30 years old, was enough for Andress to fall head-over-heels in love and left for Paris with him.  But just a short time later she breaks off the relationship without telling anybody. Her parents even sent Interpol after her and Andress even hides  out with Brigitte Bardot for a while.
 
Countless other stories follow that shape her life.
 
The scene of Andress as Honey Ryder, rising out of the ocean in a little white bikini with a diving knife at her hip, made her a fashion and cinematic icon upon Dr. No’s release in 1962. But most people don't know that she made the white bikini for herself.