The secret Bond girl: Unknown artist dubbed the voices of 007's best-known beauties - but know she's

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  • KerimKerim Istanbul Not Constantinople
    Posts: 2,629
    That is just wrong. Nikki deserves acknowledgement for her voiceovers from the early years.
  • 001001
    Posts: 1,575
    That's pathetic.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    edited September 2012 Posts: 28,694
    This is news to me! You would never think all those women (most prominently the Connery era) were voiced over by a singular female.

    This is absolutely contemptible, I agree gentlemen. This woman is supremely talented for giving each Bond girl their own possessive voice, and has nothing to show for it. It would be different if she was after the money, but all she wants is some recognition for her career of meaty Bond work. EON should be disgraced to let such a thing happen.
  • Posts: 1,817
    It's very reprehensible... She really made a real and talented contribution.
  • Looks like a few days of decent weather ahead, light winds and all

    I think banned is a bit harsh, or even not to let her participate, and it might 'embarrass' one of two former Bond stars?, I don't get that at all. Why not let her get involved, it seems she has as much right as anyone else connected with the series to be a part of celebrations. Someone needs to reconsider..
  • JamesPageJamesPage Administrator, Moderator, Director
    Posts: 1,380
    There are two sides to every story. This is just one.
  • 001001
    Posts: 1,575
    Looks like a few days of decent weather ahead, light winds and all

    I think banned is a bit harsh, or even not to let her participate, and it might 'embarrass' one of two former Bond stars?, I don't get that at all. Why not let her get involved, it seems she has as much right as anyone else connected with the series to be a part of celebrations. Someone needs to reconsider..

    Thanks for the weather report ?
  • doubleonothingdoubleonothing Los Angeles Moderator
    Posts: 864
    Strangely, the subject of voiceover artists was raised in several of the talks. Whilst Niki wasn't specifically mentioned, re-voicing was on several occasions, so it's not like this was exactly a taboo subject. In fact, it was noticeable how many times it was brought up. I suppose this doesn't seem so unusual in light of Shirley Eaton's requests. Ironically, it appears that her desire to avoid the subject made sure it was mentioned.
    I would just add that at no time did Shirley Eaton come across like she did not want to talk about any aspect of her experience on Goldfinger and, in fact, was probably the most chatty and amiable of all the Bond Girls in her talk.
  • JamesPage wrote:
    There are two sides to every story. This is just one.

    Do you know the other side of the story, @JamesPage ? Because I'd love to hear that.

  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,350
    My thoughts too @BondWillReturn. What's going on here?
  • I'd like to hear the other side of the story too. However, I am very disappointed by Shirley Eaton's attitude. This all happened nearly 50 years ago. Nikki Van Der Zyl definitely had a significant role in the early Bond movies.

    I'm appalled that Bondstars withdrew their invitations to her both yesterday and in November based on Eaton's tantrums.

    I'm pleased that I didn't attend yesterday's Goldfinger event and look forward to Nikki's autobiography.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    I want to hear Shirley's actual voice now.
  • I noticed this as I watched dr.no and then you only live twice and the voices sounded very similar...NOW I KNOW!!!!!
  • Posts: 151
    i
    I want to hear Shirley's actual voice now.
    Just imagine that cockney bombshell accent in Goldfinger!
  • Might be typical media tabloid stirring things up but if true then that is harsh. She deserves to be part of the 50th celebrations as she played a large part in its history. I'm aware of her as it has been documented in a special feature somewhere on one of the DVDs. If you listen carefully to those she dubbed you can recognise her voice. I have to say the dubbing was very well done and not unusual in Bond. Auric Goldfinger for example was dubbed and they did a good job of it.
  • edited September 2012 Posts: 824
    Nikki has a website at

    www.nikkivanderzyl.co.uk
  • Will hand artists want recognition next? Maybe they should. But there are probably better ways of going about it, rather than like a bull at a gate.

    Having seen Shirley's earlier films such as the Doctor's and Carry Ons, and hearing her own voice - or does Nicki claim to have dubbed them also? - I am at a loss for her quote in the Mail:

    "Having heard her, I realised immediately why she had been known as the Cockney Bombshell."

    This sort of comment is enough to make any recipient of her unfounded assertions uncomfortable if not worse.

    I can't remember who, but at one event Nikki was reeling off names of actresses she had dubbed in the Bond films and the Bond actress I was either with or near to, refuted her claim, saying that it was her own voice in the film, but didn't remonstrate with Nikki for fear of causing a commotion - perhaps she should have done.

  • 001001
    Posts: 1,575
    Will hand artists want recognition next? Maybe they should. But there are probably better ways of going about it, rather than like a bull at a gate.

    Having seen Shirley's earlier films such as the Doctor's and Carry Ons, and hearing her own voice - or does Nicki claim to have dubbed them also? - I am at a loss for her quote in the Mail:

    "Having heard her, I realised immediately why she had been known as the Cockney Bombshell."

    This sort of comment is enough to make any recipient of her unfounded assertions uncomfortable if not worse.

    I can't remember who, but at one event Nikki was reeling off names of actresses she had dubbed in the Bond films and the Bond actress I was either with or near to, refuted her claim, saying that it was her own voice in the film, but didn't remonstrate with Nikki for fear of causing a commotion - perhaps she should have done.

    How close are you to the bond actresses who were dubbed according to nikki?

  • How close?

    Just sat with and helped them at events.
  • Who did Nikki voice? I was under the impression that she dubbed virtually all of the Bond girls in Connery's films save Moneypenny. It would be interesting to hear the girls original voices. I know that you can find Andress' original voice in an Elvis movie "Fun In Acapulco" from 1963. I understand that the other actresses all spoke English, just not in "seductive enough voices" for the producers or with to thick of an accent.
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,350
    According to her website:

    Dr. No - Revoiced Ursula Andress (as Honey Ryder), Eunice Gayson (as Sylvia Trench) and all female voices, except Moneypenny, Miss Taro and a Chinese woman.

    From Russia With Love - Revoiced Eunice Gayson (as Sylvia Trench) and others.

    Goldfinger - Revoiced Shirley Eaton (as Jill Masterson). Voice coach to Gert Frobe and on set throughout filming.

    Thunderball - Revoiced Claudine Auger (as Dominique 'Domino' Derval)

    You Only Live Twice - Revoiced Kissy, the girl Bond marries in the film.

    On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Revoiced Virginia North (Olympe) and various others.

    Diamonds Are Forever - Revoiced various females.

    Live And Let Die - Revoiced Jane Seymour (part).

    The Man With The Golden Gun - Revoiced Chew Mee and various others.

    Moonraker - Revoiced various females.
  • I'd like to know who these "others" are in these movies.
    BTW, I've been trying to track down the actresses original voices and where they can be heard outside of interviews. I have found at least three.
    Ursula Andress can be heard in 1963's Fun in Acapulco, an Elvis Movie and Four For Texas with Sinatra and Dean Martin.
    Eunice Grayson can be heard in The Saint Episodes The Invisible Millionaire and The Saint Bids Diamonds
    Shirley Eaton can be heard in the same series episode's The Effete Angler, The Talented Husband, and Invitation to Danger.
    To my knowledge Eaton, Andress and Grayson have not been overdubbed in these episodes and movie. If I am wrong, please let me know.
    On that note, I'm not sure why Grayson was overdubbed. In the Saint episodes she sounds perfectly fine and sexy.
    Eaton's voice is definitely not as sexy as Niki's, but she sounds fine to me, although her Cockney accent is clearly there plus IMO, she has a deep seductive voice of her own.
    Andress' Voice is has a definite Swiss tinge, but I feel it too is sexy in its own right. I understand in her case that the producers were looking for a more English-European voice.
  • edited October 2012 Posts: 3,333
    Also interesting to note that Nikki also dubbed Ursula Andress is Casino Royale (67) aswell as her voice in She (65) and Blue Max (66).
    Eunice Grayson can be heard in The Saint Episodes The Invisible Millionaire and The Saint Bids Diamonds. Shirley Eaton can be heard in the same series episode's The Effete Angler, The Talented Husband, and Invitation to Danger.
    It says on her website that she "revoiced various voices" on The Saint, so it's possible that she continued to dub their voices here aswell.
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,567
    At about 7:34 Shirley Eaton comes on as a guest for Hattie Jacques This Is Your Life in 1963. She has quite a sexy voice if you ask me.
  • bondsum wrote:
    Also interesting to note that Nikki also dubbed Ursula Andress is Casino Royale (67) aswell as her voice in She (65) and Blue Max (66).
    Eunice Grayson can be heard in The Saint Episodes The Invisible Millionaire and The Saint Bids Diamonds. Shirley Eaton can be heard in the same series episode's The Effete Angler, The Talented Husband, and Invitation to Danger.
    It says on her website that she "revoiced various voices" on The Saint, so it's possible that she continued to dub their voices here aswell.

    Perhaps Grayson (though I'm suspect) but definitely not Eaton. In the Saint Eaton sounds nothing like Niki in Goldfinger. Her voice is deeper with a more noticeable British accent, which I've read should be her original voice. Even Grayson's voice in the Saint episodes has a deeper tone than in DN and FRWL.

  • This seems really unfair. From the looks of things she's done a lot for Bond and deserves to be a part of the 50th celebrations.
    JamesPage wrote:
    There are two sides to every story. This is just one.

    Then tell us the other side and maybe I'll think differently about it.
  • Posts: 3
    There is another side. It was only after Nikki was kicked out of Goldfinger Day that she referred to Eaton being known as the Cockney Bombshell way back in 1964 when the film was made. Before Nikki was dumped she had not said anything adverse about her. What's to be ashamed of having an accent anyway? It just wasn't the right one for the part of the Golden girl. The director made the decision, not Nikki. I am looking forward to reading her book For Your Ears Only.
    Eaton has lived off the Golden girl image for 48 years without telling people she was dubbed. Shame on EON too for going along with it. Let's hear it for the woman who did half her performance.
    Incidentally the current Amazon link is wrong. Apex Publishing are not producing it.
  • doubleonothingdoubleonothing Los Angeles Moderator
    Posts: 864
    It would be great if she'd dubbed seven actors. Then you could call her dubber of seven.




    I'll get me coat.
  • Nikki van der Zyl dubbed the voices of several Bond girls in the 60s. She is about to have an autobiography published. Ms. Van der Zyl has written an open letter to Sir Roger Moore, published on her website, regarding him deciding not to allow a forward he had written to be included in her book.

    Following the cancellation of her invitation to the Goldfinger event a couple of months ago, I really wonder what is going on here.

    The letter can be found at:

    nikkivanderzyl.co.uk
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