The First Lady of Bond

Eunice Gayson who played James Bond’s girlfriend Sylvia Trench in both Dr No and From Russia With Love, will be at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, on Saturday, 6th October, to sign copies of her autobiography, THE FIRST LADY OF BOND, the inside story of an original Bond girl and some of the best-loved films ever made.

Eunice became the very first 'Bond girl' with her character setting up the most famous line in film history ... 'Bond, James Bond', though Sean Connery was so nervous he took over a dozen takes to get the line correct!

In her autobiography, Eunice discusses her role in the two movies and reveals that her famous red dress in Dr No was actually a very last minute replacement and was held together with clothes pegs.

By the time 007 came into her life she had already carved out a very successful career in UK television and films, and across the pond, become one of the first reality TV stars when married live on American television.

Her leading men included Sean Connery, Patrick McGoohan, Michael Wilding, Patrick MacNee and Roger Moore, and she co-starred in a record-breaking run of The Sound of Music in London's West End.

Joining Eunice at Beaulieu is Shane Rimmer, whosevoice is familiar to millions from his role as Scott Tracy, the pilot of Thunderbird 1, and as characters in no fewer than three 007 movies.

Shane will be on hand to sign copies of From Thunderbirds to Pterodactyls, published last year, a wry and refreshingly frank autobiography that sheds new light on some of the best-loved films and television ever made. In it, Shane recalls the years he spent as an actor, voice artist and writer for Gerry Anderson's classic productions, as well as appearances in other memorable shows such as Doctor Who, Coronation Street and Lipstick On Your Collar.

Equally at home in Star Wars or Out of Africa, Shane's talents as a character actor have been called upon by some of the film industry's leading directors, from Stanley Kubrick in Dr Strangelove to Christopher Nolan in Batman Begins.

Between the two he appeared in three James Bond movies - first opposite Sean Connery as a radar operator in You Only Live Twice, and Tom in Diamonds Are Forever, and lastly with Roger Moore as Captain Carter in The Spy Who Loved Me - and had a close encounter with a low-flying dinosaur in The People That Time Forgot.

Also on hand to talk to visitors will be stuntman, Paul Weston who has appeared in 10 Bond films as well as other high-profile films such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Superman.

Eunice Gayson and Shane Rimmer will be signing books in the Visitor Reception Hall of the National Motor Museum, from 12 noon to 2.30pm on Saturday, 6th October. Visitors purchasing either autobiography will be offered a discounted rate to visit the museum’s acclaimed BOND IN MOTION exhibition on the same day*.

*Not applicable to online tickets purchased in advance from the Beaulieu webshop or in conjunction with any other offer.