Isabella Flores
One of the most memorable scenes in the James Bond film franchise involves a Bond girl being killed by suffocation after her body is painted gold. The 1964 film Goldfinger features Bond girl Jill Masterson, played by English actress Shirley Eaton, who is killed by the titular villain in this manner. This led to a persistent rumour that the actress herself had died during filming, which is false. Eaton went on to retire from acting in 1969 and is still alive as of 2023.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Bond Girl | Shirley Eaton |
| Name of the movie | Goldfinger |
| Year of the movie | 1964 |
| Cause of death in the movie | Asphyxiation/skin suffocation |
| Real-life death | No |
| Books written by the actress | Golden Girl, Golden Girl Shirley Eaton: Her Reflections, Shirley Eaton, Bond's Golden Girl; Her Own Art Gallery |
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What You'll Learn
- Shirley Eaton played Jill Masterson, Goldfinger's secretary
- Eaton retired from acting in 1969 to focus on her family
- Eaton's character was killed by being painted gold, causing skin suffocation
- It was rumoured Eaton died during filming, but this was just a myth
- Two women were painted gold in the film, including model Margaret Nolan
Shirley Eaton played Jill Masterson, Goldfinger's secretary
The 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger features a scene in which the titular villain, Auric Goldfinger, kills his secretary, Jill Masterson, by painting her entire body gold. This iconic scene, in which Bond discovers that Masterson has died of "skin suffocation", sparked an urban legend that the actress who played Masterson, Shirley Eaton, had actually died during filming. This rumour was fuelled by the fact that Eaton seemingly disappeared from the public eye after the film's release and the public's belief at the time that being covered in paint could cause death. However, it is important to note that the concept of dying from skin suffocation is entirely fictional and that Eaton did not die during or after filming the scene.
In the film, Bond catches Goldfinger cheating at a high-stakes card game with the help of his employee and secretary, Jill Masterson, played by Shirley Eaton. Bond interrupts the plot and blackmails Goldfinger, using the opportunity to also romance Masterson. However, Bond later discovers that Masterson has been killed by Goldfinger, who has covered her body in gold paint. This scene has become one of the most memorable and iconic moments in the Bond film franchise, with Eaton's golden body displayed on the cover of Life magazine and various promotional materials.
Shirley Eaton's performance as Jill Masterson, Goldfinger's secretary, is a classic example of the "Sacrificial Bond Girl" trope, in which a female character is introduced early in the film, only to be murdered later, providing Bond with further motivation to seek revenge on the villains. Despite the character's tragic demise, Eaton's portrayal of Masterson left a lasting impression on audiences, with her golden-painted body becoming an enduring image in popular culture.
Eaton's role in Goldfinger is particularly notable as it contributed to the film's overall success and cultural impact. The film premiered in London's Leicester Square in September 1964, with Eaton's golden-painted body creating a buzz among fans and the media. The film was a financial triumph, recouping its budget in just two weeks and grossing over $120 million worldwide. Goldfinger also received critical acclaim, becoming the first Bond film to win an Academy Award for Best Sound Editing.
Shirley Eaton's portrayal of Jill Masterson, Goldfinger's secretary, is a testament to the enduring appeal of the Bond film franchise and the impact a strong female character can have on popular culture. Despite the fictional nature of her character's demise, Eaton's performance continues to captivate audiences, solidifying her place in the legacy of Bond girls.
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Eaton retired from acting in 1969 to focus on her family
The actress Shirley Eaton, who portrayed Jill Masterson in the 1964 James Bond film *Goldfinger*, did not die from asphyxiation after being painted gold. In the film, her character is killed by the titular villain, who paints her entire body gold. This led to the spread of rumours that the actress herself had died during filming. However, this was just a myth.
Shirley Eaton was born on 12 January 1937 in Edgware General Hospital, Middlesex, and brought up in the suburb of Kingsbury. She attended Roe Green Primary School and later won a place at the Aida Foster Theatre School, a specialist drama school. Eaton appeared regularly in British films throughout the 1950s and 1960s, gaining her highest profile for her appearance as Bond Girl Jill Masterson in *Goldfinger*. She also had roles in the early Carry On films.
The myth of skin suffocation is based on the incorrect belief that respiration occurs, at least in part, through the skin. While it is not true that humans breathe through their skin, there is a concern that the skin is the main surface for temperature exchange, and if heat accumulates for too long under the skin, death is possible. This misconception was widely believed at the time *Goldfinger* was made and contributed to the spread of the rumour that Eaton had died during filming.
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Eaton's character was killed by being painted gold, causing skin suffocation
In the 1964 James Bond film *Goldfinger*, Shirley Eaton played Jill Masterson, Goldfinger's secretary and Bond's love interest. Eaton's character was killed by being painted gold, causing skin suffocation.
Masterson's death in the film was explained by Bond as being caused by "skin suffocation". Bond notes that the body "breathes" through the skin and that leaving a small patch of skin unpainted allows the skin to breathe, preventing death. However, this explanation is not true, and humans do not breathe through their skin.
The scene of Eaton's golden body became one of film's most memorable images, with her character's death becoming the most iconic part of the film. The image of her painted gold was displayed everywhere, including the cover of *Life* magazine.
The myth of skin suffocation may have persisted due to the belief that skin is the main surface for temperature exchange, and if heat accumulates for too long under the skin, death can occur. Interestingly, a rumour was spread that Eaton herself had died on set from asphyxiation due to the gold paint, similar to her character, which only added to the intrigue. This rumour was, of course, false, and Eaton went on to retire from acting in 1969 to devote herself to her family.
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It was rumoured Eaton died during filming, but this was just a myth
The 1964 James Bond film *Goldfinger* features a memorable scene in which Bond discovers the body of Goldfinger's secretary, Jill Masterson, who has been killed by having her entire body painted gold. This leads Bond to explain that covering a person with paint will cause death because the body "breathes" through the skin. Although widely believed at the time, this is, in fact, a myth.
Masterson was portrayed by the English actress and singer Shirley Eaton, who gained widespread attention for her appearance in the film. Eaton's golden body was displayed in promotional materials for the film, including the cover of *Life* magazine. This, combined with the myth about skin suffocation, sparked rumours that Eaton had actually died during filming.
However, these rumours were just that—rumours. Eaton did not die during the filming of *Goldfinger*. In reality, she retired from acting in 1969 to devote herself to her family. Eaton later came out of retirement in 1999 to release an autobiography titled *Golden Girl*, which became a bestseller. She has since released three more books showcasing her artwork and photography.
The idea that a person could be killed by having their body covered in paint was not original to *Goldfinger*. The 1946 Boris Karloff movie *Bedlam* features a similar plot point, and it is unlikely that the filmmakers believed the myth about skin suffocation. Instead, they likely included it in the film as a dramatic device to heighten the stakes and give Bond a personal reason to seek revenge against the villain.
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Two women were painted gold in the film, including model Margaret Nolan
The death of a Bond girl in the film Goldfinger is one of film's most memorable scenes. In the scene, the Bond girl, Jill Masterson (played by Shirley Eaton), is killed by the titular villain Auric Goldfinger, who paints her entire body gold. This scene led to the spread of a rumour that the actress Shirley Eaton had died from being painted gold. However, this rumour is false.
In the opening credits of the film, model Margaret Nolan is painted gold, and scenes from the film are projected onto her body. Nolan, who played the role of Dink, Bond's masseuse, in the film, was also painted gold and wore a gold bikini for Robert Brownjohn's title sequence, advertisements, posters, records, and books. Nolan died of cancer on 5 October 2020 at her home in Belsize Park, London, at the age of 76.
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Frequently asked questions
No. Although it was rumoured that Shirley Eaton, the actress who played Jill Masterson in the 1964 film *Goldfinger*, died of asphyxiation after being painted gold, this is not true. Eaton published an autobiography in 1999 and went on to release three more books throughout the 2000s.
In the film, Bond explains that covering a person with paint will cause death because the body "breathes" through the skin. At the time, it was widely believed that people "breathe" through their skin and that closing off all the pores in the body would result in death.
Although Eaton did not die from being painted gold, she did have to be scrubbed down by the wardrobe mistress and make-up girl after filming, and she sweated off the remaining gold in a number of Turkish baths.
Yes, in addition to Shirley Eaton, model Margaret Nolan was also painted gold during the opening credits of the film.
