Biography
British actress Eunice Gayson was forever enshrined in film history as the first "Bond Girl," Sylvia Trench, James Bond's initial love interest in "Dr. No" (1962) and "From Russia With Love" (1963). Born March 17, 1928 in Surrey, England, she was the daughter of a civil servant and moved throughout the United Kingdom during her childhood before settling in Edinburgh, Scotland. After studying opera at the Edinburgh Academy, Gayson worked steadily, if anonymously, in British film and television, beginning in 1948 with the BBC TV film "Between Ourselves." She played minor roles for directors like Charles Crichton in Ealing Studios' "Dance Hall" (1950) and Val Guest in "Dance Little Lady" (1954) before vaulting to female supporting lead in "Revenge of Frankenstein" (1958), Hammer Films' second entry in its "Frankenstein" horror franchise, with Gayson as assistant to Peter Cushing's determined doctor. She was initially cast as the faithful Miss Moneypenny in the first Bond film, "Dr. No," while Lois Maxwell was cast as Sylvia Trench, Bond's love interest in London. However, the actresses switched roles prior to filming, and while Maxwell would go on to play Moneypenny opposite Sean Connery, George Lazenby and Roger Moore as Bond, Gayson would only appear as Trench in "Dr. No" and the second Bond adventure, "From Russia with Love" (1963), though she was briefly considered as a recurring character. Despite the limited exposure, Gayson made the most of her role, which was enshrined in film history for prompting Connery to introduce one of Bond's signature catchphrases: Trench introduces herself to the spy as "Trench, Sylvia Trench," to which Connery replies, "Bond. James Bond." After "Russia," Gayson worked in television and on the British stage before making her final screen appearance in a 1972 episode of "The Adventurer" (ITC, 1972-74). She penned a memoir, "The First Lady of Bond," in 2012, and remained a diehard Bond fan favorite until her death at the age of 90 on June 8, 2018.
