20 Things You Didn't Know About Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
16. The First American Bond Girl
Jill St. John holds the distinction of being the first American Bond Girl for her performance as Tiffany Case.
However, even though she had dated former James Bond, George Lazenby around the time that he appeared in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, this did not automatically bring her to the attention of producers, Harry Saltzman and Cubby Broccoli.
Such actresses as Raquel Welch, Faye Dunaway, and Jane Fonda were being considered for the role of Tiffany Case, when one of Broccoli’s friends suggested Jill St. John for a smaller role in Diamonds Are Forever. Her screen test was enough to convince the filmmakers that they had found their Tiffany Case!