Eunice Gayson

Eunice Gayson Biography

Sylvia Trench in Dr No

Eunice Gayson is a British actress best known for her role as Sylvia Trench in the first Dr. No. She portrayed Trench alongside Sean Connery, and played a starring role in the ‘Bond, James Bond.‘ introduction scene, which has become one of the most iconic scenes in movie history.

Born on March 17, 1928 in London, England, Eunice Gayson began studying acting at an early age and made her first appearance on stage at the age of fourteen in a production of Richard II.

Throughout her career she primarily worked on stages around Britain and appeared in occasional small roles on television. Her big break came when she was cast as Sylvia Trench in Dr No (1962), becoming the first ever Bond girl.

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Her character was cast again in From Russia with Love (1963) and the producers had her in mind to become the regular girlfriend of James Bond but they changed direction and instead preferred the idea of 007 being the charming womanizer, and so Eunice Gayson’s character was dropped. However, she remains one of only 4 actresses alongside Lea Seydoux, Maud Adams, and Martine Beswick to play a Bond girl in more than one film.

Another interesting fact about Eunice Gayson and the Bond franchise is that she was first cast as Miss Moneypenny, but Lois Maxwell didn’t want the role of a seductress Bond girl, and so they switched characters.

Although she didn’t work much after her 2 Bond appearances, she did leave a lasting legacy and will always be remembered for her part in one of the most iconic scenes in cinema history.

She married twice and had a daughter to second husband, actor Brian Jackson. Their daughter Kate appeared in a casino scene in the first Pierce Brosnan Bond film Goldeneye (1995). Eunice Gayson sadly passed away on 8 June, 2018 aged 90.

A selection of Eunice Gayson pics