Tania Mallet
Encyclopedia
Tania Mallet, born on 19 May 1941 in Blackpool
, England
, is an English model who is best known for her appearance as Tilly Masterson
in the James Bond
movie Goldfinger
(1964).
Mallet attended the Lucy Clayton's School Of Modelling, and started working as a model at just 16 years old, becoming one of the most recognisable and famous models of the 1960s.
According to Mallet, she got the part of Tilly Masterson when someone sent a photo of her in a bikini
to Bond producer Cubby Broccoli. The character was killed off during the film when Oddjob (Harold Sakata
) hurled his steel rimmed hat at her. http://www.jamesbondmm.co.uk/bond-girls/tania-mallet
In any case, it seems Mallet grabbed Broccoli's attention before Goldfinger: she was tested for the lead Bond girl role, Tatiana Romanova
in From Russia with Love
. Even though her mother is Russian
, Mallet did not get the Russian role supposedly because of her provincial British accent. This is ironic however considering that the Italian actress Daniela Bianchi
, who eventually played Tatiana, had her voice redubbed anyway.
Despite the film's phenomenal success, Goldfinger would be Mallet's only major big screen appearance. Mallet cited two reasons for returning to modelling and turning down all further film offers: firstly she did not like the restrictions imposed on her personal freedom when she was under contract during the film, and secondly, she said the money was "dreadful". She was initially offered £50 a week, and managed to increase her fee to £150 a week after tough negotiations, a fee that she was easily earning a day as a model.
Mallet currently lives in England with her second husband. She still attends autograph signings at Bond events.
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, is an English model who is best known for her appearance as Tilly Masterson
Tilly Masterton
Tilly Masterton is a fictional character in Ian Fleming's James Bond novel, Goldfinger.The character was adapted for the 1964 film, Goldfinger, however, her name was changed to Tilly Masterson. Likewise her sister, Jill, was renamed Masterson as well...
in the 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,...
movie 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...
(1964).
Mallet attended the Lucy Clayton's School Of Modelling, and started working as a model at just 16 years old, becoming one of the most recognisable and famous models of the 1960s.
According to Mallet, she got the part of Tilly Masterson when someone sent a photo of her in a bikini
Bikini
The bikini is typically a women's two-piece swimsuit. One part of the attire covers the breasts and the other part covers the crotch and part of or the entire buttocks, leaving an uncovered area between the two. Merriam–Webster describes the bikini as "a woman's scanty two-piece bathing suit" or "a...
to Bond producer Cubby Broccoli. The character was killed off during the film when Oddjob (Harold Sakata
Harold Sakata
Toshiyuki "Harold" Sakata was a Japanese American professional wrestler and film actor most famous for his role as the villain "Oddjob" in the James Bond film Goldfinger.-Career:...
) hurled his steel rimmed hat at her. http://www.jamesbondmm.co.uk/bond-girls/tania-mallet
In any case, it seems Mallet grabbed Broccoli's attention before Goldfinger: she was tested for the lead Bond girl role, Tatiana Romanova
Tatiana Romanova
Tatiana Romanova is a fictional character in the James Bond novel, film, and video game From Russia with Love. She is played by Daniela Bianchi in the movie. According to William F...
in From Russia with Love
From Russia with Love (film)
From Russia with Love is the second in the James Bond spy film series, and the second to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Released in 1963, the film was produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, and directed by Terence Young. It is based on the 1957 novel of the...
. Even though her mother is Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
, Mallet did not get the Russian role supposedly because of her provincial British accent. This is ironic however considering that the Italian actress Daniela Bianchi
Daniela Bianchi
Daniela Bianchi is an Italian actress, whose best known part was Tatiana Romanova in the 1963 James Bond movie From Russia with Love....
, who eventually played Tatiana, had her voice redubbed anyway.
Despite the film's phenomenal success, Goldfinger would be Mallet's only major big screen appearance. Mallet cited two reasons for returning to modelling and turning down all further film offers: firstly she did not like the restrictions imposed on her personal freedom when she was under contract during the film, and secondly, she said the money was "dreadful". She was initially offered £50 a week, and managed to increase her fee to £150 a week after tough negotiations, a fee that she was easily earning a day as a model.
Mallet currently lives in England with her second husband. She still attends autograph signings at Bond events.