James Bond Retrospective: GoldenEye (1995)
The Bond Villain 
For the role of Alec Trevelyan, Bonds former MI6 colleague turned traitor, the producers looked to an actor who had previously been a potential candidate for the role of Bond on several occasions, Sean Bean. Best known for his portrayal of Richard Sharpe in the series of television movies based on the novels of Bernard Cornwell; during the early 1990s Bean was carving himself a successful career as a Hollywood villain when he was offered the coveted role of the lead Bond bad guy. The most interesting and unusual aspect of Trevelyan is that he is a former colleague of Bond and as a result the two characters are extremely similar only differentiated by their moral stance. It is a shame that due to the formulaic nature of the screenplay that Trevelyans motives follow the world domination thread that after the reality of the two Dalton films brings GoldenEye out of the real world and back into the Cold War style of old. Thankfully however, there is significantly more depth to his character than simply his motivation, he actually offers an intimate deconstruction of Bond that only someone who has been close to and lived alongside the character for some time could express. As the two men are so alike, Trevelyan essentially strips Bond bare, revealing insecurities and scars previously untold until now. 
Like all good Bond villains, Trevelyan still relies on a henchman or in this case a henchwoman to take care of some aspects of his business. The superbly named Xenia Onatopp, played with relish by Famke Janssen, is a Ferrari driving, Georgian assassin with a penchant for sadomasochism crushing her victims to death with her thighs. On several occasions she is shown to be gaining sexual gratification from acts of violence giving her a suitably unhinged quality. 
For the role of Natalya Simonova, the computer programmer and survivor of the GoldenEye attack on Severnaya, the producers looked mainly to former models turned actresses. A number of high profile names were attached from Elizabeth Hurley to Elle Macpherson before Polish born Izabella Scorupco was finally chosen to play the part. As a relative newcomer who found fame aged 17 acting in a number of Swedish films before giving it all up to model and forge a moderately successful pop career, GoldenEye was the first step to a Hollywood career for the actress. 
While fulfilling the traditional role of the Bond girl as his companion, assistant and lover, there is still room for Simonova to provide further deconstruction of Bond by highlighting his weaknesses and lonely existence. Scorupco brings a feisty resilience to the part and while her character may not be the most memorable of Bond girls she is still high on the list of the most beautiful.
For the role of Alec Trevelyan, Bonds former MI6 colleague turned traitor, the producers looked to an actor who had previously been a potential candidate for the role of Bond on several occasions, Sean Bean. Best known for his portrayal of Richard Sharpe in the series of television movies based on the novels of Bernard Cornwell; during the early 1990s Bean was carving himself a successful career as a Hollywood villain when he was offered the coveted role of the lead Bond bad guy. The most interesting and unusual aspect of Trevelyan is that he is a former colleague of Bond and as a result the two characters are extremely similar only differentiated by their moral stance. It is a shame that due to the formulaic nature of the screenplay that Trevelyans motives follow the world domination thread that after the reality of the two Dalton films brings GoldenEye out of the real world and back into the Cold War style of old. Thankfully however, there is significantly more depth to his character than simply his motivation, he actually offers an intimate deconstruction of Bond that only someone who has been close to and lived alongside the character for some time could express. As the two men are so alike, Trevelyan essentially strips Bond bare, revealing insecurities and scars previously untold until now. Bean is the perfect fit for Trevelyan, underplaying the character brilliantly providing a more subtle villain than many of the larger than life characters that fill Bonds rogues gallery. It is also a refreshing change to have a villain that is a physical match for Bond which in turn leads to a more satisfying final fight between the two men with a genuine uncertainty as to who will be the victor.Classic Line
Alex Trevelyan: I might as well ask you if all those vodka martinis ever silence the screams of all the men you've killed... or if you find forgiveness in the arms of all those willing women for all the dead ones you failed to protect.
Like all good Bond villains, Trevelyan still relies on a henchman or in this case a henchwoman to take care of some aspects of his business. The superbly named Xenia Onatopp, played with relish by Famke Janssen, is a Ferrari driving, Georgian assassin with a penchant for sadomasochism crushing her victims to death with her thighs. On several occasions she is shown to be gaining sexual gratification from acts of violence giving her a suitably unhinged quality. Onatopp is a kind of glamorous, updated version of From Russia With Loves Rosa Klebb and in this new world where Bond has a female boss, his masculinity is brought into question for the first time in the series. It is Janssens spirited performance in the role that makes the character work without becoming too much of a caricature, leaving a lasting impression and reserving a place in the higher echelons of the series best henchmen. The Bond GirlClassic Line
Xenia Onatopp: You dont need the gun, Commander.
James Bond: Well, that depends on your definition of safe sex.
For the role of Natalya Simonova, the computer programmer and survivor of the GoldenEye attack on Severnaya, the producers looked mainly to former models turned actresses. A number of high profile names were attached from Elizabeth Hurley to Elle Macpherson before Polish born Izabella Scorupco was finally chosen to play the part. As a relative newcomer who found fame aged 17 acting in a number of Swedish films before giving it all up to model and forge a moderately successful pop career, GoldenEye was the first step to a Hollywood career for the actress. Classic Line
Natalya Simonova: You think Im impressed? All of you with your guns, your killing, your death. For what? So you can be a hero? All the heroes I know are dead. How can you act like this? How can you be so cold?
James Bond: Its what keeps me alive.
Natalya Simonova: No. Its what keeps you alone.
While fulfilling the traditional role of the Bond girl as his companion, assistant and lover, there is still room for Simonova to provide further deconstruction of Bond by highlighting his weaknesses and lonely existence. Scorupco brings a feisty resilience to the part and while her character may not be the most memorable of Bond girls she is still high on the list of the most beautiful.