James Bond: 10 Bond Girls Who Became Massive Stars

2. Joanna Lumley

To many, the fact that Joanna Lumley - British national treasure extraordinaire - is actually a Bond Girl, may surprise many people, but her brief but memorable performance in On Her Majesty's Secret Service is one that confirms her status in the pantheon of 007 history. Her character in the film doesn't even receive a name beyond 'English Girl', but her role is pivotal, given her status as one of the film's Angels of Death - brainwashed beauties set to unwittingly release gas canisters of an airborne virus around the globe on the orders of Blofied. Lumley's career soared following her brief Bond role - she slowly emerged in television and film as a talent to be noticed, taking the lead in TV's The Avengers (the female role left by her fellow Bond girl Diana Rigg) and Sapphire and Steel, exemplifying her butt-kicking action heroine status, before moving onto bigger things. Most notably, she became a bonafide true comedy legend in her role as the acid-tongued, chain-smoking, Bolly-swigging fashion editor Patsy Stone in the acerbically funny Absolutely Fabulous. These roles allowed Lumley to become more than the pretty face and posh voice that most associated her with. Lumley continues to work to this day, collaborating with directors such as Martin Scorcese, Peter Bogdanovich, and Tim Burton. Very few Bond girls have managed to do so well.