RIP Zena Marshall (1925-2009)

[FormerBondFan]

http://www.mi6.co.uk/sections/articles/ ... =&id=02303

Zena Marshall (1925-2009)
15th July 2009

British actress Zena Moyra Marshall was born on New Year's day in 1925 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Her first big screen role came as a bit part (lady-in-waiting) in the Gabriel Pascal produced 1945 "Caesar and Cleopatra" that starred Claude Rains and Vivien Leigh in respective title roles. It would be 17 years before Marshall had her real brush with James Bond, but the film also featured an uncredited debut appearance from future-007 actor Roger Moore as a Roman Soldier.

Her exotic looks landed her several small parts in film and television, often being cast in ethnic roles, such as Italians and Asian characters. Notable films for the 5' 5" actress included "Good Time Girl", "The Lost People", "Helter Skelter", "So Long At The Fair", "Morning Departure", 'Three Cases Of Murder", and "Crosstrap".

In 1957, Marshall appeared in two episodes of "O.S.S.", a TV series based on the US spy agency during WWII, produced by ITC in the UK and distributed State-side by ABC

Marshall shot to fame in the role of Chinese SPECTRE agent Miss Taro in the debut James Bond film "Dr No" in October 1962. Although it took a couple of years for worldwide audiences to catch on to the 007 phenomenon (the film was not released in the USA until May 1963), and thanks to re-releases of the early films when Bondmania struck with "Goldfinger" and "Thunderball", Marshall's scenes with Sean Connery became part of cinema history.

Although not the first conquest for Bond, Miss Taro was the first 'bad girl' of the series. In the pay of the villainous Dr No, Miss Taro arranges to meet Bond at her apartment in the mountains for a date.

En route, Bond is menaced by the assassins who pursue him in a hearse. Bond escapes under a crane parked in the road as the pursuing hearse plummets over a cliff and explodes. Taro is startled to find Bond on her doorstep and later takes a call from someone who wants her to keep him there for a couple of hours. Bond, naturally, finds the perfect way to kill the time then sets Taro up to be arrested by the local police superintendent.

Following her most famous role, Marshall also appeared in popular films "The Switch" (1963) and "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines" (1965). She came back in to the Bond fold for an appearance as herself in the TV special "The Incredible World of James Bond", a behind the scenes look at the Bond phenomenon during the release of "Thunderball".

TV roles in the 60's included episodes of "Invisible Man", "Danger Man" and "Dixon of Dock Green". Like many of the early Bond girls, she retired from the screen to focus on domestic life. Her last big screen credit was the quirky 1967 sci-fi flick "The Terrornauts".

Marshall was married to Ivan Foxwell in 1991 until his death on 16th January 2002. In recent years, she proved extremely popular at Bond reunion events and screenings. After suffering a short illness, Zena Marshall passed away on Friday 10th July 2009 at the age of 84.

[Dr. No]

She was great! I'm glad she had a long full life

[John Drake]

[Omega]

She doesn't look 37 there

[oscartheman]

Actors in James Bond used to be hired based on looking younger than they were.Not any more 50 year old looking Craig pissed that theory away.

[John Drake]

She doesn't look 37 there

Another one. Reminds me I haven't seen Dr No for a while.

[Felix Leiter]

[oscartheman]

Good god!Bond does not look miserable and all emo!