A number of stars have paid tribute to the late actress Honor Blackman, who has died at the age of 94.
Blackman is best known for playing Pussy Galore in Goldfinger alongside Sean Connery as James Bond, and for her role as Cathy Gale in The Avengers from 1962-1964.
Actor and comedian David Walliams paid tribute to Blackman on Twitter, sharing a photo of Blackman in character as Pussy Galore.
“Farewell Honor Blackman. She will live forever as Pussy Galore in ‘Goldfinger’,” he wrote.
Actor Joe Mugg, who starred with Blackman in The Upper Hand from 1990-1996, shared a photo of the cast with a tribute to the late actress.
“Just heard the very sad news that dear Honor has died. What a woman she was- fiercely bright, superbly funny and a wonderful actress on screen and onstage. I loved every day of working with her and I loved and respected her with all my heart RIP”.
James Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli wrote: “(Blackman) was an extraordinary talent and a beloved member of the Bond family. Our thoughts are with her family at this time.”
Actor William Shatner wrote: “Pussy Galore Honor Blackman has passed,” adding a sad face emoji.
Blackman’s family shared the news of her passing with a touching tribute to the star.
“It’s with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Honor Blackman aged 94,” the statement read.
“She died peacefully of natural causes at home in Lewes, Sussex surrounded by her family.
“She was much loved and will be greatly missed by her two adopted children Barnaby and Lottie, and her four grandchildren Daisy, Oscar, Olive and Toby.”
Their tribute praised Blackman as “a much adored mother and grandmother” and “an actor of hugely prolific creative talent” with “an extraordinary combination of beauty, brains and physical prowess.”
“She achieved an unparalleled iconic status in the world of film and entertainment and with absolute commitment to her craft and total professionalism in all her endeavours she contributed to some of the great films and theatre productions of our times,” the family said.
Born in Plaistow in 1925, Blackman trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama as a teenager before eventually making her film debut with a non-speaking role in Fame Is The Spur in 1947.
She went on to appear in films including So Long At The Fair with Dirk Bogarde, The Square Peg and the Westerns Shalako with Connery and Something Big with Dean Martin, eventually joining British spy series The Avengers in 1962 as John Steed’s assistant Cathy Gale.
She also played the Greek goddess Hera in the 1963 film adaptation of Jason and the Argonauts before landing her iconic Bond girl role as Pussy Galore.
Additional reporting from Press Association.
