Cast of Goldfinger

Goldfinger Cast

The Goldfinger cast is widely regarded as one of the best in the history of the James Bond franchise, and their outstanding performance helped make the film one of the most iconic Bond movies of all time.

Released as the third film in the series, Goldfinger is often credited with propelling the franchise to new heights of popularity and cementing its place in the cultural zeitgeist.

In the film, James Bond takes on the ruthless and eccentric billionaire gold bug Auric Goldfinger. The story takes Bond from the UK to Switzerland and ultimately to the United States, where he must thwart Goldfinger’s plan to break into Fort Knox and make America’s gold hoard worthless.

Sean Connery’s performance as James Bond in the Goldfinger cast is often considered to be the definitive portrayal of the character. Throughout the film, Connery effortlessly embodies the suave and capable spy, handling everything villains and girls can throw at him.

The movie’s iconic opening scene, in which Bond snorkels to a drug lab with a duck on his head before blowing it up and changing quickly into his crisp white tuxedo, has become a legendary moment in cinema history.

Connery’s clashes with the villainous Auric Goldfinger offer anxious and humorous moments to the story. The dynamic between the two characters is one of the Goldfinger’s key strengths, with their interactions serving as a constant source of tension and entertainment.

Additionally, Connery’s on-screen chemistry with Honor Blackman, who plays the iconic Bond girl Pussy Galore, has gone down in cinema history. Their flirty banter and not-too-subtle power struggles contribute to the excitement of the story.

Honor Blackman’s portrayal of Pussy Galore has cemented her as one of the most iconic Bond girls in the franchise’s history. Her character is notable not just for the flirty tension she shares with Connery’s Bond, but for the multifaceted nature of her role.

Galore is a strong and independent character, a pilot and leader of a group of female pilots, who initially poses a challenge to Bond before ultimately joining forces with him. Blackman’s portrayal subverts the typical tropes of the ‘damsel in distress’ Bond girls and presents a refreshing and dynamic character in the world of James Bond.

Watch the Inside Goldfinger Documentary

Gert Fröbe’s performance as Auric Goldfinger puts him high on the pedestal with other Bond villains. Unlike most villains who are introduced later in the film, Goldfinger appears early and plays a prominent role throughout the story.

In one particularly iconic scene, Bond finds himself at Goldfinger’s mercy. With his crown jewels threatened by a laser beam, he cockily asks Goldfinger if he expects him to talk. Goldfinger’s now-famous retort of ‘No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die’ has become one of the most iconic quotes in the movie franchise.

Shirley Eaton’s performance as Jill Masterson may have been brief, but it was undoubtedly memorable. Playing a key role early in the plot, Masterson works for Goldfinger, helping him cheat at cards until Bond intervenes.

Bond then plays games with Goldfinger over the audio connection he was sharing with Masterson. And she’s so enamoured to Bond’s reactions, she is easily lured into his bed.

However, Masterson’s story takes a dark turn when Goldfinger discovers her betrayal and has her killed. Not only that, but he makes sure she’s left naked on Bond’s bed completely covered in gold paint, serving as a warning to James Bond not to interfere in his affairs.

Tania Mallet’s portrayal of Tilly Masterson was also noteworthy as part of the Goldfinger cast. She’s in Switzerland and almost kills Bond in her attempt to kill Goldfinger, the man who killed her sister, Jill. She’s a bad shot, but an excellent driver in her Ford Mustang convertible.

Initially, it appears that Tilly Masterson may become a Bond girl as she teams up with Bond in his mission to stop Auric Goldfinger. However, her journey is cut short when she’s killed by Oddjob’s razor sharp steel-rimmed hat.

Speaking of Oddjob, Harold Sakata’s portrayal of the powerful henchmen is legendary. He has no spoken parts, but with his bowler hat and his ability to crush a golf ball with his hand, has certainly made him one of Bond’s most memorable foes.

Bernard Lee’s portrayal of M, the head of MI6, added a sense of authority and comedy to the film. He was a perfect M, but the highlight in Goldfinger was when he scolds Bond for sleeping with Jill Masterson.

‘You were only supposed to observe Goldfinger, not borrow his girlfriend,’ he tells 007.

Desmond Lewellyn as Q really came into his own in this film. The scene in which he introduces 007 to his new toy, the Aston Martin DB5, set the standard for all Qs and really helped Lewellyn shine in this classic movie.

Lois Maxwell was back as Miss Moneypenny and her quick wit and flirty manner always offers some charm to the mix. However, her switching roles and tossing Bond’s hat onto the hat stand was a highlight for M’s secretary.

CIA agent Felix Leiter was back after no appearance in From Russia with Love, but this time he was played by Cec Linder. The producers had wanted previous actor Jack Lord to reprise the role, but he demanded co-star billing and a big pay rise, so Linder, being the only actor available in Miami, was cast as Felix Leiter.

Overall, the Goldfinger cast delivered some of the most memorable performances and scenes in the James Bond franchise. The film is regularly voted as one of, if not the best Bond movies, and even though it’s almost sixty years old, it never actually gets old.

Watch the official trailer of Goldfinger

Rest of the Goldfinger Cast and Crew