10 Actresses Whose Careers Didn’t Flourish After They Were Bond Girls
5. Mie Hama
Despite sporting a white bikini recalling Ursula Andress’ Honey from Dr. No, Mie Hama’s Kissy Suzuki has the smaller of the two main Bond Girl roles in what was originally meant to be Sean Connery’s swansong from the franchise, You Only Live Twice (1967).
Although she was a popular actress in her native Japan, Hama sadly struggled to master English to a sufficient level required for the film and was almost let go from the production. However, a compromise was reached: her co-star, Akiko Wakabayashi would take the much larger role of Suki (which was renamed Aki at her suggestion) and Mie Hama would become the film’s final Bond Girl, Kissy Suzuki.
Nevertheless, Mie Hama was dubbed by regular Bond Girl voice actress, Nikki van der Zyl in the final film.
A very private person, Hama made only two film appearances after You Only Live Twice, both in Japan, and decided to refocus her career around television, radio, writing and supporting the environment. Nevertheless, she has spoken contentedly about her encounter with Double-0 Seven in later years.