Model Tania Mallet, best known for playing Tilly Masterson alongside Sean Connery in the 1964 James Bond film, "Goldfinger," has died at the age of 77.
"We are very sorry to hear that Tania Mallet who played Tilly Masterson in Goldfinger has passed away," the official James Bond Twitter account wrote on Sunday, March 31. "Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time."
Because of her half-Russian descent, Mallet was originally considered for the lead Bond girl in the 1963 "From Russia With Love," but her provincial English accent made her unsuitable.
A year later, she agreed to appear in "Goldfinger" as an experiment. At the time, she was earning £2,000 a week for modeling while for the role, she only earned £150 a week, according to IMDB.
However, after the role, instead of following in the footsteps of her cousin, Helen Mirren, and pursuing acting, Mallet returned to her much more lucrative modeling job, according to IMDB. According to the site, she needed the money to support her mother and put her brothers through school.
In "Goldfinger," Mallet played Tilly Masterson, a character intent on killing Aurie Goldfinger after he murdered her sister by painting her body in gold paint.
"I don’t think any of the Bond girls have ever been a push over," she said. "So I don’t consider I did much more than follow on in the movie. I was, however, the one that got away."
Following news of her passing, several Bond accounts and fans took to Twitter to express sorrow.
"Very sad to hear that British actress Tania Mallet who played Tilly Masterson in Goldfinger has passed away aged 77," The Bond Archives wrote.
Bondstars wrote, "Unfortunately we must share the very sad news that our dear friend Tania Mallet has sadly passed away. She was a very classy and beautiful lady inside and out. We will cherish the memories of the infamous trips to Holland with her and Eunice."
"RIP Tania Mallet," one person wrote. "Remains one of the most alluring and razor sharp presences in the Bond universe."
"Farewell to actress and model Tania Mallet, best known for her role as Tilly Masterson in Guy Hamilton's Goldfinger (1964). Rest In Peace," another wrote.