20 Vintage Photos of a Very Young Ursula Andress in the 1950s

Ursula Andress, born on March 19, 1936, in Ostermundigen, Switzerland, began her acting career in Europe during the early 1950s. She appeared in minor roles in Italian films such as An American in Rome (1954) and The Sins of Casanova (1955), and La catena dell'odio (1955). She was seen by a Hollywood executive who persuaded her to try her luck in Hollywood.

Andress arrived in Hollywood in late 1955. That spring she was signed to a seven-year contract with Paramount Pictures, starting at $287 a week. The contract brought no acting roles, owing to her reluctance to learn English. “I spent most of my time watching old Marlene Dietrich movies,” she said.

Andress received some publicity for dating James Dean shortly before the actor’s death. She bought herself out of her contract and in 1956 signed with Columbia Pictures. She made no films for them either. She stayed in Hollywood when she married John Derek in 1957. In 1959, it was announced she and Derek would star in a film, High Variety, but no film resulted.

Andress gained international fame in 1962 for her role as Honey Ryder in the first James Bond film, Dr. No. Her iconic scene emerging from the sea in a white bikini became emblematic of the 1960s cinematic allure. This role established her as a “quintessential” Bond girl and opened doors to numerous acting opportunities in the ensuing years.