The most photographed woman and actress in the 70’s, Britt Ekland, finally came to Palma yesterday to inaugurate an homage to the late British director, Guy Hamilton, known for his James Bond films and other movie classics.
The day began with the presentation of the photographic exhibition charting Hamilton’s career with many of the legendary actors and actresses with whome he worked.
The original Austin Martin DB5 from The Man With The Golden Gun was on show and there was even a Martini bar to add to the flavour of this very special occasion.
But, the star of the show, was actress Britt Ekland who autographed the inside of the boot of the emblematic car.
Ekland, who until one of the latest Daniel Craig Bold Films Spectre, was the oldest ever Bond Girl at the age of 30, is extremely proud of the film and having worked under the direction of Guy Hamilton.
“I really wanted that role, I told Cubby Broccoli and I went to a casting in the States. On the way back I read in a British paper that a new Bond girl had been chosen, I was over the moon, only to find out that it was Maud Adams. I was mortified. I got home to London and Broccoli called me in, gave me the script and said ‘you’ve got the part’,” Ekland recalled. “But working with Guy taught me a lot, I had already acted in a number of big film, no less The Wicker Man, but Guy was extremely strict and I think, because of my age he was a bit unsure of me. But there was never any messing about on set, although off set Roger and I got on extremely well and were always having parties and leaping into swimming pools and the like. Remember it was the 60s and 70s and cinema was very male dominated by some of the greatest male actors ever, so it was tough for women to break through and I was always a bit nervous around Guy who knew exactly what he wanted and always got the right results. He didn’t direct four Bond films on merit, he was perfect for the job and all the other great films he made.
“But, it wasn’t until he and I went to Canada on a promotional trip that he finally realised that I was smart as well as a beautiful Swede,” she joked. “And from then on we were friends for life and he was always inviting me to Majorca but I lived in LA and it was not easy to pop over. But here I am today and I am extremely proud to have played a part in Guy’s wonderful life,” she said.
Ekland was also full of praise to the late Sir Roger Moore.
“I beg to find anyone in this world who has a bad word to say about him. He was charming, polite, a true gentleman and a great help on set. He was also extremely amusing, always up for some fun and he and I established a life long relationship. I often helped him on his UNESCO campaigns and we were in contact until the very end, the last time I saw him we drank champagne and laughed about our lives. I will never ever forget either of these great men who I had the wonderful privilege to have worked with and learn from.”