Priya Kapoor
In the 1964 James Bond film *Goldfinger*, Shirley Eaton gained her highest profile for her appearance as Bond Girl Jill Masterson, who was painted gold. Eaton recalled how hot the gold paint was, but also shared how much fun she had getting to be the first Bond girl. Margaret Nolan, who played a masseuse named Dink, was also painted gold for the film's opening title sequence. Doctors were on the scene for Eaton's gold body paint scene, and a patch of her skin was left unpainted to allow her skin to breathe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the actress | Shirley Eaton |
| Year of filming | 1964 |
| Character | Jill Masterson |
| Left a patch of skin unpainted | To let her skin breathe |
| Had doctors on the scene | Yes |
| Actress's feelings about the paint | It was hot, but she had fun |
| Actress's feelings about gold | Wears it often and likes it for its warmth |
| Actress's thoughts on the role | She enjoyed being the wicked lady Sumuru |
| Actress's autobiography | Golden Girl |
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What You'll Learn
- Shirley Eaton was painted gold for her role as Bond Girl Jill Masterson
- Eaton wore gold body paint, with a small unpainted patch to allow her skin to breathe
- Eaton enjoyed the experience, despite the paint being hot
- Margaret Nolan was also painted gold for the opening credits of Goldfinger
- Nolan wore a gold bikini and had scenes projected onto her body
Shirley Eaton was painted gold for her role as Bond Girl Jill Masterson
Shirley Eaton was painted gold for her iconic role as Bond Girl Jill Masterson in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger. Eaton's characterisation of Jill Masterson earned her bombshell status and she became the first Bond Girl.
Eaton's body was painted gold, leaving a small patch of skin unpainted to allow her to breathe. Doctors were on the scene to ensure that the gold paint would not cause her harm. Eaton recalled that the paint was hot, but she had fun with the process.
There were rumours that the actress had died from the paint, but these were false. In fact, Eaton went on to publish a book about her life and career, titled Under My Skin, to coincide with Goldfinger's golden anniversary in 2014. In the book, she expressed her continued fondness for gold, stating that she often wears the colour.
Eaton's experience as the first Bond Girl led to further film roles, including appearances in a pair of films for Ivan Tors: Rhino! (1964) and Around the World Under the Sea (1966). She also starred in a Harry Alan Towers version of an Agatha Christie mystery, Ten Little Indians (1965), and a Bob Hope comedy, Eight on the Lam (1967).
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Eaton wore gold body paint, with a small unpainted patch to allow her skin to breathe
In the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger, Shirley Eaton played Jill Masterson, a Bond girl who was painted gold. Eaton wore gold body paint, with a small unpainted patch to allow her skin to breathe.
Eaton's skin was painted gold for her role as Jill Masterson, who was famously killed by being painted gold—causing her to suffocate. This scene prompted false rumours that the actress had died during filming as a result of the paint. However, these rumours were proven untrue, as doctors were on the scene to ensure Eaton's safety.
In a 2014 interview, Eaton expressed that her experience with the body paint hadn't affected her fondness for gold. She stated, "I wear it often. I have always liked gold as a metal for its warmth." Eaton also shared that the gold paint was hot, but that she had fun portraying the first Bond girl.
Eaton's role in Goldfinger was one of her most notable appearances, though she also had roles in several other films, including Rhino! (1964), Around the World Under the Sea (1966), and The Million Eyes of Sumuru (1967). She retired from acting in 1969 to devote herself to her family but later came out of retirement to release her autobiography, Golden Girl, in 1999.
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Eaton enjoyed the experience, despite the paint being hot
Shirley Eaton, the actress who played Jill Masterson in the 1964 James Bond film *Goldfinger*, recalled that the gold paint used in the film was "hot". Despite this, she said she enjoyed the experience of being the first Bond girl. Eaton's fondness for gold persisted after the film, and she continued to wear the metal, drawn to its warmth.
Eaton's experience with the body paint was not enough to put her off gold. In fact, she went on to release a book titled *Golden Girl* in 1999, which became a bestseller. Eaton's character in *Goldfinger* was also not the only instance of gold body paint in the film. The opening title sequence of the movie was projected onto the gold-painted body of actress Margaret Nolan, who played a masseuse named Dink.
Nolan's involvement in the film was almost limited to the title sequence, as she only agreed to do it if she were given a role in the movie. She was also concerned about the potential health risks of the paint, as there were rumours that Eaton had died during filming as a result of it. However, doctors were present on the scene, and it turned out that the paint did not cause any harm.
Eaton's decision to retire from acting in 1969 was not due to her experience with the gold paint in *Goldfinger*, but rather her preference to devote herself to raising her family. She made a few more films after *Goldfinger*, including *Rhino!* (1964), *Around the World Under the Sea* (1966), and *The Million Eyes of Sumuru* (1967).
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Margaret Nolan was also painted gold for the opening credits of Goldfinger
The opening credits of the 1964 James Bond film "Goldfinger" featured a gold-painted Margaret Nolan as a canvas for the projected opening credits. Nolan's skin was painted a shimmering gold hue, and she wore a gold leather bikini. She stood still while scenes from the film were projected onto her body.
Nolan was initially only wanted for the title sequence, but she agreed to do it on the condition that she would be given a role in the movie. Nolan played a masseuse named Dink who appears briefly with James Bond, played by Sean Connery.
Nolan's involvement in the film brought her fame, and she described how she was "quite unexpectedly shot into the limelight" by "Goldfinger" when she was only 20.
It is worth noting that there were rumours that the actress had died during the filming as a result of the paint. However, these were false, and doctors were on the scene to ensure Nolan's safety.
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Nolan wore a gold bikini and had scenes projected onto her body
The gold-painted body in the opening credits of the James Bond film "Goldfinger" was that of actress Margaret Nolan. Nolan wore a gold bikini and had scenes from the film projected onto her body.
Nolan's skin was painted a shimmering gold hue, and she wore a gold leather bikini for the shoot. The filming process was long and meticulous, with Nolan standing still while the scenes were projected onto her curves. The filmmakers initially wanted Nolan only for the title sequence, but she agreed to do it on the condition that she would get a role in the movie as well.
In the film, Nolan played a masseuse named Dink who appears briefly with James Bond, portrayed by Sean Connery. Nolan's character should not be confused with the character who is completely painted in gold and dies of "skin suffocation." That character, Bond Girl Jill Masterson, was played by Shirley Eaton.
Eaton recalled how hot the gold paint was, but she also shared that she had fun getting to be the first Bond Girl. A rumour circulated that Eaton had died from the paint, but this was false. Doctors were on the scene to ensure her safety, and a patch of her skin was left unpainted to allow her to breathe.
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Frequently asked questions
The actress painted gold in Goldfinger was Margaret Nolan.
The Bond girl in Goldfinger, Jill Masterson, was played by Shirley Eaton.
The painting process was long and meticulous. Nolan described how she wore a gold leather bikini and had her skin painted a shimmering gold hue. Doctors were on the scene to ensure Eaton's safety, and a patch of skin was left unpainted to allow her skin to breathe.
No, despite rumours, the actress did not die from the paint.
Margaret Nolan did not play the Bond girl in Goldfinger. She appeared in the opening title sequence, with scenes from the film projected onto her body, and played a masseuse named Dink.
