Honor Blackman, the actor best known for playing beloved Bond girl Pussy Galore, has passed away aged 94.

Blackman’s death was confirmed by her family in a statement to The Guardian. The silver screen icon, who had a career spanning eight decades, passed away “peacefully of natural causes at her home in Lewes, Sussex, surrounded by her family.”

“As well as being a much-adored mother and grandmother, Honor was an actor of hugely prolific creative talent; with an extraordinary combination of beauty, brains and physical prowess, along with her unique voice and a dedicated work ethic, she achieved an unparalleled iconic status in the world of film and entertainment and with absolute commitment to her craft and total professionalism in all her endeavours she contributed to some of the great films and theatre productions of our times.”

Blackman’s breakthrough came in 1962 when she was cast as Dr. Cathy Gale on the television series, The Avengers. This role led her to be cast as the iconic Pussy Galore in the third James Bond film, Goldfinger.

Throughout her illustrious career Blackman was a mainstay in theatre, television and film. Acting in films Jason and the Argonauts (1963), Shalako (1968) and The Virgin and the Gypsy (1970) and appearing as a main cast member of 90s sitcom The Upper Hand.

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