Shirley Eaton
Encyclopedia
Shirley Eaton is an English actress.
Eaton appeared regularly in British films throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and achieved notability for her performance as Bond Girl Jill Masterson
in the 1964 James Bond
film Goldfinger
. Preferring to devote herself to bringing up a family, Eaton retired from acting in 1969.
, Middlesex
, and brought up in the suburb of Harrow Weald
. She attended Roe Green Junior School on Prince's Avenue. Although close to Kingsbury Secondary Modern School
, Eaton won a place at the Aida Foster School, a specialist drama school, and remained there until she was sixteen. Her stage debut was in Benjamin Britten
's Let's Make an Opera!
and her West End debut was in 1954 in Going to Town.
, Max Bygraves
, Bob Monkhouse
and Arthur Askey
. Her female co-stars included Peggy Mount
, Thora Hird
and Dora Bryan
among others. Her early roles include Three Men In A Boat
(1956) and Date with Disaster (1957), in which she co-starred with Tom Drake
. She also worked with the Crazy Gang
in Life Is a Circus
(1958) and with Mickey Spillane
in The Girl Hunters
(1963) in which Spillane played his own literary creation Mike Hammer
. She starred in a version of Ten Little Indians
(1965) with Hugh O'Brian
and Fabian
, and appeared in several early Carry On films
. She rarely appeared on television; an exception was her work in three episodes of The Saint
, starring Roger Moore
.
Although not known as a singer, Eaton participated in the British heat of the 1957 Eurovision Song Contest
.
Eaton achieved most recognition for her performance as Jill Masterson
in the 1964 James Bond
film Goldfinger
, gaining more recognition than actress Honor Blackman
who played leading Bond Girl Pussy Galore. She appeared on the cover of Life Magazine in her gold-painted persona. Her character's death, being painted head to toe in gold paint and suffering "skin suffocation
" led to an urban myth that Eaton had died during filming. She appeared in a 2003 episode of the series MythBusters
to dispel the rumour.
After Goldfinger, Eaton made only a few more films, including The Million Eyes of Sumuru
(1969), before her retirement.
Eaton published an autobiography in 2000 titled Golden Girl.
Eaton appeared regularly in British films throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and achieved notability for her performance as Bond Girl Jill Masterson
Jill Masterson
Jill Masterton is a fictional character in Ian Fleming's James Bond novel Goldfinger. For the film adaptation both she and her sister Tilly had their surname changed to Masterson. Jill Masterson was played by Shirley Eaton....
in the 1964 James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
film Goldfinger
Goldfinger (film)
Goldfinger is the third spy film in the James Bond series and the third to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Released in 1964, it is based on the novel of the same name by Ian Fleming. The film also stars Honor Blackman as Bond girl Pussy Galore and Gert Fröbe as the title...
. Preferring to devote herself to bringing up a family, Eaton retired from acting in 1969.
Early life
Eaton was born on 12 January 1937 in EdgwareEdgware
Edgware is an area in London, situated north-northwest of Charing Cross. It forms part of both the London Borough of Barnet and the London Borough of Harrow. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, and brought up in the suburb of Harrow Weald
Harrow Weald
Harrow Weald is an area in north-west London, England. It includes a suburban development and forms part of the London Borough of Harrow.-Locale, geography and history:...
. She attended Roe Green Junior School on Prince's Avenue. Although close to Kingsbury Secondary Modern School
Kingsbury High School
Kingsbury High School is a large High School in Kingsbury, London, England notable for a number of reasons including its national reputation for Mathematics, its many eminent alumni and for the fact that the Upper School site at Princes Avenue, NW9 London, is recognisable to many British adults...
, Eaton won a place at the Aida Foster School, a specialist drama school, and remained there until she was sixteen. Her stage debut was in Benjamin Britten
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
's Let's Make an Opera!
The Little Sweep
The Little Sweep is an opera for children in three scenes by the English composer Benjamin Britten, with a libretto by Eric Crozier.- Let's Make an Opera! :...
and her West End debut was in 1954 in Going to Town.
Career
Throughout her career, she appeared with many of the top British male comedy stars from the period including Jimmy EdwardsJimmy Edwards
Jimmy Edwards DFC was an English comedic script writer and comedy actor on both radio and television, best known as Pa Glum in Take It From Here and as the headmaster 'Professor' James Edwards in Whack-O!-Biography:...
, Max Bygraves
Max Bygraves
Max Bygraves OBE is an English comedian, singer, actor and variety performer. He appeared on his own television shows, sometimes performing comedy sketches between songs...
, Bob Monkhouse
Bob Monkhouse
Robert Alan "Bob" Monkhouse, OBE was an English entertainer. He was a successful comedy writer, comedian and actor and was also well known on British television as a presenter and game show host...
and Arthur Askey
Arthur Askey
Arthur Bowden Askey CBE was a prominent English comedian.- Life and career :Askey was born at 29 Moses Street, Liverpool, the eldest child and only son of Samuel Askey , secretary of the firm Sugar Products of Liverpool, and his wife, Betsy Bowden , of Knutsford, Cheshire...
. Her female co-stars included Peggy Mount
Peggy Mount
Margaret Rose "Peggy" Mount OBE, was an English actress of stage and screen. She was perhaps best known for playing battleaxe characters, though her real personality was said to have been far removed from such roles. She was also well-known for her distinctive voice.- Early life :Mount was born in...
, Thora Hird
Thora Hird
Dame Thora Hird DBE was an English actress.-Early life and career:Hird was born in the Lancashire seaside town of Morecambe. She first appeared on stage at the age of two months in a play her father was managing...
and Dora Bryan
Dora Bryan
Dora May Bryan OBE is an English actress of stage, film and television.-Early life:Bryan was born as Dora May Broadbent in Southport, Lancashire, England. Her father was a salesman and she attended Hathershaw County Primary School in Oldham, Lancashire...
among others. Her early roles include Three Men In A Boat
Three Men in a Boat
Three Men in a Boat ,The Penguin edition punctuates the title differently: Three Men in a Boat: To Say Nothing of the Dog! published in 1889, is a humorous account by Jerome K...
(1956) and Date with Disaster (1957), in which she co-starred with Tom Drake
Tom Drake
Tom Drake , born Alfred Sinclair Alderdice in Brooklyn, New York, was an American actor. Drake made films starting in 1940 and continuing until the mid-1970s, and also made TV acting appearances....
. She also worked with the Crazy Gang
The Crazy Gang
The Crazy Gang were a group of British entertainers, formed in the early 1930s. In the mature form the group's six men were Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen, Jimmy Nervo, Teddy Knox, Charlie Naughton and Jimmy Gold...
in Life Is a Circus
Life is a Circus (1960 film)
Life is a Circus is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Val Guest and starring Bud Flanagan, Teddy Knox, Jimmy Nervo, Shirley Eaton and Lionel Jeffries. A down-on-its-luck circus use an Aladdin's Magic Lamp to try and save their business....
(1958) and with Mickey Spillane
Mickey Spillane
Frank Morrison Spillane , better known as Mickey Spillane, was an American author of crime novels, many featuring his signature detective character, Mike Hammer. More than 225 million copies of his books have sold internationally...
in The Girl Hunters
The Girl Hunters
The Girl Hunters is a British-made film, adapted from the 1962 Mickey Spillane pulp novel The Girl Hunters.Mickey Spillane played Mike Hammer, one of the few occasions in film history in which an author of a popular literary hero has portrayed his own character. It also starred Bond girl Shirley...
(1963) in which Spillane played his own literary creation Mike Hammer
Mike Hammer
Michael "Mike" Hammer is a fictional detective created by the American author Mickey Spillane in the 1947 book I, the Jury .-Description:...
. She starred in a version of Ten Little Indians
Ten Little Indians (1965 film)
The 1965 version of Ten Little Indians is the second film version of Agatha Christie's detective novel And Then There Were None . Although its background story is the same as the 1945 version , this one takes place on an isolated snowy mountain...
(1965) with Hugh O'Brian
Hugh O'Brian
Hugh O'Brian is an American actor, known for his starring role in the ABC television series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp .-Early years and career:...
and Fabian
Fabian (entertainer)
Fabiano Anthony Forte , known as Fabian, is an American teen idol of the late 1950s and early 1960s. He rose to national prominence after performing several times on American Bandstand. Eleven of his songs reached the Billboard Hot 100 listing.-Early life:Fabian was the son of Josephine and Domenic...
, and appeared in several early Carry On films
Carry On films
The Carry On films are a series of low-budget British comedy films, directed by Gerald Thomas and produced by Peter Rogers. They are an energetic mix of parody, farce, slapstick and double entendres....
. She rarely appeared on television; an exception was her work in three episodes of The Saint
The Saint (TV series)
The Saint was an ITC mystery spy thriller television series that aired in the UK on ITV between 1962 and 1969. It centred on the Leslie Charteris literary character, Simon Templar, a Robin Hood-like adventurer with a penchant for disguise. The character may be nicknamed The Saint because the...
, starring Roger Moore
Roger Moore
Sir Roger George Moore KBE , is an English actor, perhaps best known for portraying British secret agent James Bond in seven films from 1973 to 1985. He also portrayed Simon Templar in the long-running British television series The Saint.-Early life:Moore was born in Stockwell, London...
.
Although not known as a singer, Eaton participated in the British heat of the 1957 Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
.
Eaton achieved most recognition for her performance as Jill Masterson
Jill Masterson
Jill Masterton is a fictional character in Ian Fleming's James Bond novel Goldfinger. For the film adaptation both she and her sister Tilly had their surname changed to Masterson. Jill Masterson was played by Shirley Eaton....
in the 1964 James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
film Goldfinger
Goldfinger (film)
Goldfinger is the third spy film in the James Bond series and the third to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Released in 1964, it is based on the novel of the same name by Ian Fleming. The film also stars Honor Blackman as Bond girl Pussy Galore and Gert Fröbe as the title...
, gaining more recognition than actress Honor Blackman
Honor Blackman
Honor Blackman is an English actress, known for the roles of Cathy Gale in The Avengers and Bond girl Pussy Galore in Goldfinger .-Early life:...
who played leading Bond Girl Pussy Galore. She appeared on the cover of Life Magazine in her gold-painted persona. Her character's death, being painted head to toe in gold paint and suffering "skin suffocation
Suffocation
Suffocation is the process of Asphyxia.Suffocation may also refer to:* Suffocation , an American death metal band* "Suffocation", a song on Morbid Angel's debut album, Altars of Madness...
" led to an urban myth that Eaton had died during filming. She appeared in a 2003 episode of the series MythBusters
MythBusters
MythBusters is a science entertainment TV program created and produced by Beyond Television Productions for the Discovery Channel. The series is screened by numerous international broadcasters, including Discovery Channel Australia, Discovery Channel Latin America, Discovery Channel Canada, Quest...
to dispel the rumour.
After Goldfinger, Eaton made only a few more films, including The Million Eyes of Sumuru
The Million Eyes of Sumuru
The Million Eyes of Sumuru is a 1967 spy film produced by Harry Alan Towers and directed by Lindsay Shonteff, starring Frankie Avalon and George Nader, with Shirley Eaton as the titular Sumuru. It was based on a series of novels by Sax Rohmer about a megalomaniac femme fatale. The film was released...
(1969), before her retirement.
Personal life
Eaton was married to Colin Lenton-Rowe from 1957 until his death in 1994. The couple had two children. Eaton retired from acting to bring up her family and later commented in a 1999 interview with Steve Swires of Starlog magazine, "A career is a career, but you're a mother until you die." She repeated this statement in an interview with journalist James Davies on 18 June 2008, adding, "The most important thing for me was being a woman and having a family more than being a very famous glamorous actress."Eaton published an autobiography in 2000 titled Golden Girl.
Filmography
- The Seven Secrets of Sumuru (1969) as Sumuru
- The SaintThe Saint (TV series)The Saint was an ITC mystery spy thriller television series that aired in the UK on ITV between 1962 and 1969. It centred on the Leslie Charteris literary character, Simon Templar, a Robin Hood-like adventurer with a penchant for disguise. The character may be nicknamed The Saint because the...
(3 episodes, 1962–1968) - The Blood of Fu ManchuThe Blood of Fu ManchuThe Blood of Fu Manchu, also known as Fu Manchu and the Kiss of Death, Kiss and Kill and Against All Odds, is a 1968 British adventure crime film based on the fictional Asian villain Fu Manchu, created by Sax Rohmer. It was the fourth film in a series, and was preceded by The Vengeance of Fu...
(1968) as Black Widow - The Million Eyes of SumuruThe Million Eyes of SumuruThe Million Eyes of Sumuru is a 1967 spy film produced by Harry Alan Towers and directed by Lindsay Shonteff, starring Frankie Avalon and George Nader, with Shirley Eaton as the titular Sumuru. It was based on a series of novels by Sax Rohmer about a megalomaniac femme fatale. The film was released...
(1967) as Sumuru - Eight on the LamEight on the LamEight on the Lam is a 1967 film directed by George Marshall. It stars Bob Hope and Phyllis Diller.-Cast:*Bob Hope as Henry Dimsdale*Phyllis Diller as Golda*Jonathan Winters as Police Sgt. Jasper Lynch / Mother Lynch*Shirley Eaton as Ellie Barton...
(1967) as Ellie Barton - The Scorpio Letters (1967) (TV) as Phoebe Stewart
- Around the World Under the SeaAround the World Under the SeaAround the World Under the Sea is a 1966 science fiction film directed by Andrew Marton and starring Lloyd Bridges, with Marshall Thompson, Shirley Eaton, Gary Merrill, and David McCallum...
(1966/I) as Dr. Margaret E. 'Maggie' Hanford - Ten Little IndiansTen Little Indians (1965 film)The 1965 version of Ten Little Indians is the second film version of Agatha Christie's detective novel And Then There Were None . Although its background story is the same as the 1945 version , this one takes place on an isolated snowy mountain...
(1965) as Ann Clyde - The Naked BrigadeThe Naked BrigadeThe Naked Brigade is a 1965 Greek-American war film directed by Maury Dexter and starring Shirley Eaton, Ken Scott and Mairi Hronopoulou. During the German invasion of Crete in 1941, a British girl is trapped on the island. Eventually she joins the resistance fighters against the Nazis.-Cast:*...
(1965) as Diana Forsythe - GoldfingerGoldfinger (film)Goldfinger is the third spy film in the James Bond series and the third to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Released in 1964, it is based on the novel of the same name by Ian Fleming. The film also stars Honor Blackman as Bond girl Pussy Galore and Gert Fröbe as the title...
(1964) as Jill Masterson - Rhino! (1964) as Miss Arleigh
- The Girl Hunters (1963) as Laura Knapp
- Man of the World as Lee (1 episode, 1962)
- Our Man in the Caribbean (1962)
- What a Carve Up!What a Carve Up! (film)What a Carve Up! is a 1961 British comedy horror film directed by Pat Jackson. It was released in the United States in 1962 as No Place Like Homicide...
(1961) as Linda Dickson - A Weekend with LuluA Weekend with LuluA Weekend with Lulu is a 1961 British comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Bob Monkhouse, Leslie Phillips, Alfred Marks, and Shirley Eaton.-Cast:*Bob Monkhouse as Fred Scrutton*Leslie Phillips as Timothy Gray...
(1961) as Deirdre Proudfoot - Dentist on the JobDentist on the JobDentist on the Job is a 1961 British comedy film directed by C.M. Pennington-Richards. It was released in the US with the title Get on with it! It is the sequel to Dentist in the Chair. The film was co-written by Bob Monkhouse and Hazel Adair...
(1961) as Jill Venner - Nearly a Nasty AccidentNearly a Nasty AccidentNearly a Nasty Accident is a 1961 British comedy film directed by Don Chaffey and starring Jimmy Edwards, Kenneth Connor, Shirley Eaton and Eric Barker.-Cast:* Jimmy Edwards as Group Captain Kingsley* Kenneth Connor as AC 2 Alexander Wood...
(1961) as Cpl. Jean Briggs - Carry On ConstableCarry On ConstableCarry On Constable is the fourth Carry On film. It was released in 1960. Of the regular team, it featured Kenneth Connor, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims and Hattie Jacques. Sid James makes his debut in the series here, while early regulars Leslie Phillips, Eric Barker and Shirley...
(1960) as Sally Barry - Life Is a CircusLife is a Circus (1960 film)Life is a Circus is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Val Guest and starring Bud Flanagan, Teddy Knox, Jimmy Nervo, Shirley Eaton and Lionel Jeffries. A down-on-its-luck circus use an Aladdin's Magic Lamp to try and save their business....
(1960) as Shirley Winter - In the Wake of a StrangerIn the Wake of a StrangerIn the Wake of a Stranger is a 1959 British thriller film directed by David Eady and starring Tony Wright, Shirley Eaton and Danny Green. A group of murderers try to frame an innocent sailor for their crime.-Cast:* Tony Wright - Tom Cassidy...
(1959) as Joyce Edwards - Carry On NurseCarry On NurseCarry On Nurse is the second Carry On film, released in 1959. Of the regular team, it featured Joan Sims , Kenneth Williams, Kenneth Connor and Charles Hawtrey, with Hattie Jacques and Leslie Phillips. The film was written by Norman Hudis based on the play Ring For Catty by Patrick Cargill and Jack...
(1959) as Staff Nurse Dorothy Denton - Further Up the CreekFurther Up the CreekFurther Up the Creek is a 1958 British comedy film written and directed by Val Guest and starring David Tomlinson, Frankie Howerd, Shirley Eaton, Thora Hird, Desmond Llewelyn and Lionel Jeffries...
(1958) as Jane - Carry On SergeantCarry On SergeantCarry On Sergeant is the first Carry On film. Its first public screening was on 1 August 1958 at Screen One, London. Actors in this film who went on to be part of the regular team in the series were Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Hattie Jacques, Kenneth Connor and Terry Scott...
(1958) as Mary Sage - The Naked TruthThe Naked Truth (1957 film)The Naked Truth is a 1957 British film comedy starring Peter Sellers, Terry-Thomas and Dennis Price. Peggy Mount, Shirley Eaton and Joan Sims also appear...
(1957) as Melissa Right - Date with DisasterDate with DisasterDate with Disaster is a 1957 British crime film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Tom Drake, William Hartnell and Shirley Eaton. It was made at Southall Studios.-Cast:* Tom Drake as Miles* William Hartnell as Tracy* Shirley Eaton as Sue...
(1957) as Sue - Doctor at LargeDoctor at Large (film)Doctor at Large is a 1957 British comedy film, the third installment of the Doctor in the House series. It stars Dirk Bogarde, Muriel Pavlow, Donald Sinden, and James Robertson Justice.-Cast:* Dirk Bogarde as Dr. Simon Sparrow...
(1957) as Nan - Three Men in a BoatThree Men in a Boat (1956 film)Three Men in a Boat is a 1956 British CinemaScope colour comedy film directed by Ken Annakin and starring Laurence Harvey, Jimmy Edwards, Shirley Eaton and David Thomlinson. It is based on the 1889 novel Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome...
(1956) as Sophie Clutterbuck - Sailor Beware!Sailor Beware! (1956 film)Sailor Beware! is a 1956 British comedy film directed by Gordon Parry.-Cast:* Peggy Mount ... Emma Hornett* Shirley Eaton ... Shirley Hornett* Ronald Lewis ... Albert Tufnell* Cyril Smith ... Henry Hornett* Esma Cannon ... Edie Hornett...
(1956) as Shirley Hornett - Charley MoonCharley MoonCharley Moon is a 1956 British film directed by Guy Hamilton. It stars Max Bygraves, Dennis Price and Shirley Eaton.-Cast:* Max Bygraves as Charley Moon* Dennis Price as Harold Armytage* Michael Medwin as Alf Higgins* Florence Desmond as Mary Minton...
(1956) as Angel Dream - The Love MatchThe Love MatchThe Love Match is a 1955 British comedy film directed by David Paltenghi and starring Arthur Askey, Glenn Melvyn, Thora Hird and Shirley Eaton. Two football-mad railway engine drivers are desperate to get back in time to see a match. It was based on a play by Glenn Melvyn.-Cast:* Arthur Askey ... ...
(1955) as Rose Brown - And So to Bentley (1 episode, 1954)
- The Belles of St Trinian'sThe Belles of St Trinian'sThe Belles of St Trinian's is a comedy film set in the fictional St Trinian's School, released in 1954. It and its sequels were inspired by British cartoonist Ronald Searle. Directed by Frank Launder and written by him and Sidney Gilliat, it was the first of a series of five...
(1954) (uncredited) as Sixth Former - Doctor in the HouseDoctor in the HouseDoctor in the House is a 1954 British comedy film, directed by Ralph Thomas and produced by Betty Box. The screenplay, by Nicholas Phipps, Richard Gordon and Ronald Wilkinson, is based on the novel by Gordon, and follows a group of students through medical school.It was the most popular box office...
(1954) as Milly Groaker - You Know What Sailors Are (1954) as Bit Part
- A Day to RememberA Day to Remember (1953 film)A Day to Remember is a 1953 British comedy drama film directed by Ralph Thomas and starring an ensemble cast including Stanley Holloway, Donald Sinden and Bill Owen. The darts team of a London public house go on a day trip to Boulogne-sur-Mer in France....
(1953) (uncredited) as Young Woman on Ferry - Parent-Craft (1951) TV series as Anne Pebble