Bond Girl Ursula Andress Faces £16M Fraud Scandal on 90th Birthday
Ursula Andress, the Swiss actress who made cinematic history as the first Bond Girl, is celebrating her 90th birthday this Thursday under a cloud of financial devastation. Instead of enjoying a peaceful retirement in Rome, the star finds herself embroiled in a shocking fraud scandal that has allegedly stripped her of £16 million.
Iconic Beginnings and Career Highlights
Andress first captivated audiences in 1962 when she emerged from the ocean in a white bikini as Honey Ryder in Dr. No, starring alongside Sean Connery. At just 26 years old, her performance earned her the Golden Globe for New Star of the Year. She later portrayed Vesper Lynd in the 1967 Bond parody Casino Royale and became a Playboy icon, posing nude in 1965 and appearing in the magazine seven times over the following 15 years.
Financial Turmoil and Alleged Embezzlement
In a tragic twist, Andress's life has been thrown into chaos after filing a criminal complaint in January against her late former manager, Eric Freymond. According to reports, Freymond is accused of losing £16 million of her estimated £18 million net worth through a series of questionable transactions. Andress told German publication Blick that she feels deliberately targeted, stating: "For eight years, I was courted and wooed. They lied to me ruthlessly and exploited my goodwill and trust in a perfidious, even criminal, way to take everything from me."
The actress confessed to suffering from anxiety and sleeplessness, adding: "This feeling of helplessness is unbearable – it's killing me." Freymond allegedly made unauthorized art purchases on her behalf, none of which were delivered to her. He was previously suspected of embezzling from Hermès heir Nicolas Puech and confessed to some charges during a Paris interrogation in July 2023 before taking his own life two weeks later. The artworks bought with Andress's money are reportedly registered in his wife Caroline's name, though there is no suggestion of her involvement.
Legal Proceedings and Retirement Dreams Shattered
Andress has filed a criminal complaint including embezzlement charges, with her management stating: "As part of a fraud scheme of exceptional scale and complexity, involving numerous actors and structures, she was deprived of a large portion of her assets, resulting in significant damage." The Vaud cantonal judicial authorities are investigating the case. Andress expressed her devastation, saying: "I've been disgustingly cheated! I hope the perpetrators are punished to the full extent of the law." She had prided herself on saving for a "happy and peaceful retirement," making the scandal particularly painful.
Colourful Personal Life and Relationships
Beyond her career, Andress led a vibrant personal life. After losing her virginity to married actor Daniel Gelin at 17, she dated Dennis Hopper and James Dean before marrying actor-director John Derek in 1957. They divorced in 1966, and she later had relationships with co-stars John Richardson and Marcello Mastroianni. Her most notable romance was with actor Harry Hamlin, whom she seduced in 1980, resulting in a pregnancy that same night. Their son Dimitri was born in 1980, and they had a three-year relationship before splitting in 1983. Andress later said: "Love affairs and husbands can end, but a child is forever. Dimitri is my love now."
She also dated soccer player Paulo Roberto Falcão, actor Gerardo Amato, and singer Julio Iglesias, with her last known link being to martial arts expert Jeff Speakman in 1991. Since then, she has become more reclusive, appearing in fewer roles, with her last film being the 2005 Swiss feature Die Vogelpredigt. In 2017, she sold her Beverly Hills home and now splits her time between Rome and Gstaad, Switzerland.
Legacy and Current Struggles
As Ursula Andress turns 90, her legacy as a cinematic icon is overshadowed by financial betrayal. Her story serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities even celebrated stars can face, with her dreams of a tranquil retirement now replaced by a fight for justice and recovery.
