Rosie Carver – A CIA Agent with a Dark Secret
Rosie Carver, the enigmatic and groundbreaking character who made her mark on the James Bond series in the 1973 film Live and Let Die. Portrayed by the talented Gloria Hendry, Rosie Carver not only captivated audiences with her beauty and charm but also shattered barriers as the first Black Bond girl.
Rosie Carver
Rosie Carver, a character in the 1973 James Bond film Live and Let Die, was a CIA agent working on the island of San Monique. However, she was also a double agent serving the island’s Dictator, Dr. Kananga. American actress Gloria Hendry portrayed Carver, becoming the first black woman to play a Bond girl.
In the movie, Rosie Carver operates as a rogue CIA agent and Dr. Kananga’s subordinate, tasked with assassinating James Bond. Upon checking into a San Monique hotel, Bond is shocked to find that “Mrs. Bond” has already reserved their suite.
Bond discovers Rosie is “Mrs Bond” and explains she’s his contact in San Monique. She offhandedly mentions that Bond is her second assignment, hinting at her possible incompetence or inexperience. Her overreaction when finding a dead snake and a voodoo hat in their suite seem to confirm this, but this is probably a warning to her from Kananga not to double cross him.
After spending the night together, Bond and Rosie go deep-sea fishing while exploring the island. They hire Quarrel Junior and his boat for the task. On board, Rosie discovers a hidden compartment with radio transmitters and weapons, leading her to mistakenly believe Quarrel is a villain. Bond resolves the misunderstanding, revealing his acquaintance with Quarrel.
The duo reaches the presumed site of Baines’ death. Following a romantic picnic, Bond confronts Rosie and uncovers her true allegiance to Kananga. She is to lure Bond into a trap where he will be killed.
When Bond threatens to kill her unless she confesses, Rosie calls his bluff and flees, only to be shot moments later by one of Kananga’s booby-trapped scarecrows.
Gloria Hendry
Gloria Hendry, an American actress and former model, gained prominence in the 1970s. Born on March 3, 1949, in Florida, she later moved to New York and worked as a Bunny at the New York Playboy Club from 1968 to 1972.
Hendry’s acting career began in 1968 with a small role in Sidney Poitier’s For Love of Ivy. She went on to star in The Landlord (1970), Across 110th Street (1972), and Black Caesar (1973). That same year, she made history as the first Black Bond girl, Rosie Carver, in Live and Let Die (1973).
Continuing her career, Hendry took on lead roles in blaxploitation films like Hell Up in Harlem (1973), Black Belt Jones (1974), and Savage Sisters (1974). She also appeared in action, horror, and comedy films, such as Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings (1994), Freaky Deaky (2012), and her final role as Aunt Sydney in Snow Black (2021).
