Who was the first actor to play James Bond on screen?
Sean Connery? Nope. Barry Nelson. The American guy-next- door actor played "Jimmy" Bond opposite bad guy Peter Lorre in an excruciating adaptation of "Casino Royale" for a 1954 episode of TV's "Climax!" You can find it as a DVD extra on MGM's edition of the 1967 "Casino Royale" spoof, but you've been warned.
The 007 rankings|
• 1. Sean Connery. Not at all whom creator Ian Fleming had in mind at first -- the author considered him unrefined, and it was sophisticated director Terence Young who schooled the Scotsman in style. But Connery made the role his own with palpable confidence and danger. He never should have returned all doughy and pink-shirted for "Diamonds Are Forever," and even he didn't like his unofficial 1983 "Thunderball" remake, "Never Say Never Again." Still, the definitive Bond.
• 2. George Lazenby. Seriously. The Aussie is often dismissed as an early role model for David Caruso because he quit after one movie. But 1969's "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" has emerged over the years as one of the series' best among fans. Lazenby impressed producers by busting an opponent's nose in a screen test, and is the most physical of the Bonds.
• 3. Timothy Dalton. The Welshman turned down "OHMSS," and his eventual entries, "The Living Daylights" (1987) and "Licence to Kill" (1989) left mediocre impressions. But Dalton brought a no-nonsense quality to the role that Fleming would have toasted.
• 4. Pierce Brosnan. Women like him, and there's a generation of young fans who identify him with the role; but he poses and delivers one-liners with the gravitas of a male model.
• 5. Roger Moore. "Live and Let Die" was really a blaxploitation comedy, five of his next six Bond flicks were increasingly silly laugh-fests (1981's "For Your Eyes Only" was a back-to-basics exception) and Moore admits that he played Bond tongue-in- cheek. Ironically, the stiff star of TV's "The Saint" and "The Persuaders" was closer to what Fleming had in mind.
• 6. David Niven. Sir James Bond in "Casino Royale" doesn't really count because it's not part of the official series. But Niven was Fleming's first choice to play Bond.
Bond babes|
Ursula Andress (Honey Rider in "Dr. No"), Honor Blackman (Pussy Galore in "Goldfinger") and Diana Rigg (Tracy Di Vicenzo in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service") are the iconic Bond women. But there have been other distinguished alumni -- for one reason or another.
• Teri Hatcher. Way before "Desperate Housewives" and her Radio Shack ads, she starred in 1997's "Tomorrow Never Dies" as the disappointingly named Paris Carver. She was no Pussy Galore.
• Jane Seymour. The psychic Solitaire in "Live and Let Die" became "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman."
• Britt Ekland. Mary Goodnight in "The Man With the Golden Gun" became Mrs. Peter Sellers and later slapped Rod Stewart with a $12.5 million palimony suit.
• Barbara Bach. Anya Amasova in "The Spy Who Loved Me" became the wife who loved Ringo Starr. She was no Yoko.
• Corinne Clery. "Moonraker's" Corinne Dufour had a racy past as the titular heroine of 1975's controversial "The Story of O."
• Tanya Roberts. One of Charlie's last Angels, and a flop as "Sheena," queen of the jungle before underwhelming as Stacey Sutton -- come on, Stacey Sutton? -- in 1985's "A View to a Kill." After a 1982 Playboy spread and some naughty cable TV work, she was last seen in a recurring role on "That '70s Show."
• Carey Lowell. Forgettable as Pam Bouvier in "Licence to Kill," but moved on to a two-year stint on "Law & Order" and marriage to Richard Gere.
• Famke Janssen. "GoldenEye's" Xenia Onatopp -- now that's more like it -- became mutant Jean Grey in the "X-Men" flicks.
Eat and drink like 007|
Like his creator, who smoked 70 cigarettes a day and keeled over at the age of 56, Bond's no health-food nut. In his first book, 1953's "Casino Royale," Bond says he likes his drinks big. Here's his own martini recipe, to be served in a deep champagne goblet:
"Three measures of Gordon's (gin), one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet (vermouth). Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel."
The recipe for the secret agent's favorite dish comes from the short story, "James Bond in New York": Scrambled eggs "James Bond," for four.
12 fresh eggs
Salt and pepper
5-6 oz. of fresh butter
"Break the eggs into a bowl. Beat thoroughly with a fork and season well. In a small copper (or heavy-bottomed saucepan) melt four oz. of the butter. When melted, pour in the eggs and cook over a very low heat, whisking continuously with a small egg whisk.
"While the eggs are slightly more moist than you would wish eating, remove the pan from heat, add rest of butter and continue whisking for half a minute, adding finely chopped chives or fines herbes. Serve on hot buttered toast in individual copper dishes (for appearance only) with pink champagne (Tattinger) and low music."
For dessert, eat an entire stick of butter. Serve in hospital bed.