Bond Icon Ursula Andress Devastated by Alleged £17 Million Embezzlement
In an unforgettable white bikini with a dagger on her hip, Ursula Andress's appearance on a gleaming Jamaican beach in the 1962 film Dr No set the enduring standard for every Bond girl that followed. Yet sadly, 007 was not around to protect the legendary actress from real-life villains now accused of embezzling her multi-million-pound fortune.
Criminal Complaint and Asset Seizure
Ms Andress, who played Honey Ryder alongside Sean Connery's James Bond in the iconic spy thriller, filed a criminal complaint in her native Switzerland in January against her late former asset manager, Eric Freymond. Now, Italian authorities have seized approximately £17 million worth of assets, including property, vineyards, and olive groves in Tuscany, which are alleged to have been purchased with misappropriated funds from the star.
Investigators traced her money to Florence, leading to the significant asset freeze. Ms Andress, who celebrated her 90th birthday earlier this month, expressed profound shock and distress in an interview with the Swiss-German publication Blick.
Heartbreaking Testimony from the Actress
"I am still in shock. I was deliberately targeted. For eight years, I was courted and wooed," she revealed. "They lied to me ruthlessly and exploited my goodwill and trust in a perfidious, even criminal way to take everything from me. And they were counting on my age! I'm so devastated."
She claims that Freymond lost her fortune by investing in worthless stocks and acquiring artwork valued at several million Swiss francs. Some of these artworks have now been revealed to be registered in the name of Freymond's wife, Caroline, though there is no suggestion she is involved in any wrongdoing.
Impact on Health and Legacy
The actress, who also appeared as Vesper Lynd in the 1967 Bond parody Casino Royale, told Blick that the stress of the investigation has left her struggling to sleep at night. "This feeling of helplessness is unbearable – it's killing me," she added. "Like all Swiss people, I have worked hard and always saved my money. I hoped to spend my final years happily and peacefully. And now this happens. I've been disgustingly cheated."
A statement from Ms Andress's management team described the situation as "a fraud scheme of exceptional scale and complexity, involving numerous actors and structures," resulting in significant financial damage. They noted that Swiss judicial authorities are fully investigating the matter to clarify criminal and civil liability.
Broader Implications and Tragic Outcome
Freymond, 67, will not face justice, as he was hit by a train and killed last July near the Swiss alpine village of Saanen, with local police treating his death as a suicide. Notably, Nicolas Puech, heir to the $16 billion Hermès fortune, has also accused Freymond of costing him billions by selling off his 6 percent stake in the family business, indicating a pattern of alleged misconduct.
Beyond her Bond legacy, Ms Andress enjoyed a prolific career spanning over six decades, acting alongside icons like Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin. Her role in Dr No earned her a Golden Globe newcomer award, and she had high-profile relationships with figures such as James Dean and actor Harry Hamlin, with whom she has a son, Dimitri.
This case highlights the vulnerabilities faced by elderly celebrities in financial matters, underscoring the need for robust protections against exploitation and fraud in the entertainment industry.
