Ursula Andress Biography
Ursula Andress was a Swiss/German actress and sex symbol who rose to fame in the 1960s. She was born on March 19, 1936 in Ostermundigen, Switzerland.
Andress’ mother was German, while her father was a Swiss diplomat. She spent her early years traveling around Europe with her family, and as a result, she was fluent in several languages, including English, German, French, and Italian.
After leaving school, Ursulla Andress went to Paris to study art, then went to Rome, where she did some nannying. In 1955, when she was 19, she moved to Hollywood, California.
After arriving there, Andress had relationships with Hollywood stars Dennis Hopper and James Dean. She also had an affair that year with actor/director John Derek, who left his wife Pati Behrs and children to be together with the then 19-year-old Ursula Andress. They ended up marrying.
Andress struggled to get any acting work at first, but got her big break in the James Bond film Dr. No. Her character was the first main Bond girl Honey Ryder. And her entrance where she emerges from the sea in a white bikini, has become one of the most iconic moments in film history and immediately cemented her status as a sex symbol.
After Dr. No, Ursula Andress appeared in a number of films, including Bond parody Casino Royale (1967 version, not Bond 21), Fun in Acapulco with Elvis Presley, and Clash of the Titans. Andress also starred in the Italian comedy Anyone Can Play (1968) alongside fellow Bond girl Claudine Auger.
In addition to her acting career, Andress was also known for her beauty and style. She was often described as one of the most beautiful women in the world, and she graced the covers of numerous magazines, including Vogue and Femme.
Since the 1980s, she has appeared in less movies. Her last role was in 2005 in St. Francis Birds Tour starring as a Madonna. She hasn’t officially retired, but the 86 year old has moved from the US and now lives in Rome and Swiss town Gstaad.
