The actress shot to fame in her late 30s after playing the Bond girl in the 1964 movie Goldfinger, starring alongside Sean Connery. It was only the third instalment in the spy franchise, and received critical acclaim and box office success.
“It’s with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Honor Blackman aged 94,” the family said in a statement.
“She died peacefully of natural causes at home in Lewes, Sussex, surrounded by her family. As well as being a much adored mother and grandmother, Honor was an actor of hugely prolific creative talent.”
Her family added she possessed “an extraordinary combination of beauty, brains and physical prowess, along with her unique voice and a dedicated work ethic”. Blackman also became well-known in Britain for playing the character Cathy Gale in the popular 1960s TV spy series The Avengers alongside Patrick Macnee as the bowler-hatted John Steed.
She learned judo for her role as the leather-clad Gale and her martial arts skills helped land her the Bond film role.
“Today we mark the passing of a film icon, Honor Blackman who shall forever be remembered for her role in Goldfinger,” Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said in a statement on Twitter.
“She was an extraordinary talent and a beloved member of the Bond family. Our thoughts are with her family at this time.”
Blackman also starred in the 1963 film Jason and the Argonauts and appeared in Bridget Jones’s Diary. On television, she had guest appearances on Doctor Who, Colombo and Coronation Street. Her long and successful career also included theatre roles in productions such as The Sound Of Music, My Fair Lady and Cabaret.
