THEN AND NOW: 40 of the most iconic Bond women (2024)

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"Dr. No" (1962): Ursula Andress popularized the now-iconic scene where she steps out on the beach as Honey Ryder.

Andress was commonly known as the first Bond girl.

The actress won a Golden Globe for her role as "new star of the year."

Now (Age 83): In 2005, Andress starred in small comedy "The Bird Preachers."

In 2006, Andress was named honorary citizen of her birthplace Ostermundigen. She sold her Beverly Hills home in 2017 for $2.28 million to an interior designer.

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"Dr. No" / "From Russia With Love" (1962/1963): Eunice Gayson played Bond's girlfriend Sylvia Trench in two films.

Trench meets James Bond during a game of Baccarat in "Dr. No." Bond first uses his trademark "Bond, James Bond" line when introducing himself to Trench.

Now: Gayson died in 2018. She was 90.

Gayson released an autobiography in 2012 titled "The First Lady of Bond." Gayson's daughter, Kate, appeared as an extra in 1995's "GoldenEye."

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"From Russia With Love" (1963): Daniela Bianchi played Soviet Army Intelligence Corporal Tatiana Romanova.

Her voice was dubbed by actress Barbra Jefford due to her heavy Italian accent.

Now (Age 79): Bianchi starred in small Italian and French films after Bond before retiring from acting in 1970.

Bianchi retired from acting in 1970. She appeared in a 2012 documentary called "We're Nothing Like James Bond."

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"Goldfinger" (1964): Honor Blackman quit her role on "The Avengers" to appear as Pussy Galore.

United Artists landed Blackman for the role by incorporating her judo experience into the film.

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Now: Blackman died in April 2020 at the age of 94.

Blackman starred in films until 2015.

Her last titles include 2012's "Cockneys vs Zombies" and the sitcom "You, Me, and Them," where she described her character as selfish. Blackman has also played Professor Lasky and voiced Queen Anahita on the "Doctor Who" TV series and audio story, respectively.

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"Goldfinger" (1964): Model Tania Mallet was cast as Tilly Masterson after her photo was sent to the Bond producer.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Bond producer Cubby Broccoli was sent a photo of her for Vogue lying on "some rocks in a bikini." She originally tested for Bianchi's role in "From Russia With Love."

Now: Mallet died in April 2019 at the age of 77.

Mallet also had an uncredited role on "The New Avengers" in 1976 before returning to modeling.

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"Goldfinger" (1964): Margaret Nolan played the small role of Bond's masseuse, Dink.

Despite the small role, Nolan appears on the ads and soundtrack cover for the film as a gold-painted woman.

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Now: Nolan died of cancer in October 2020. She was 76.

Nolan hadn't starred in films since 1986, but appeared in 2011's "The Power of Three."

Nolan lived in Heampstead, London where she worked as an artist making photo montages using old publicity photographs.

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"Goldfinger" (1964): Shirley Eaton became a sex symbol in the '60s after playing the role of Jill Masterson.

Masterson was the Bond girl who dies from getting covered in gold.

Now (Age 84): Eaton retired from acting in 1969 to raise her family.

Eaton published an autobiography, "Golden Girl," in 1999. Eaton also released a poetry book in 2006 called "Shirley Eaton's Golden Touch."

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"Thunderball" (1965): French actress Claudine Auger is best known for her role as Dominique "Domino" Derval.

Before Bond, she was the first runner-up in the 1958 Miss World contest.

Now: Auger died in December 2019 at age 78.

Auger's last credited appearance is on French TV movie "The Red and the Black."

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"Thunderball" (1965): Luciana Paluzzi played Spectre agent Fiona Volpe.

Paluzzi originally auditioned for the role of Domino.

Now (Age 84): Paluzzi appeared in several movies through the 1960.

The Italian actress is married to Michael Solomon, former president of Warner Bros. international television.

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"Thunderball" (1965): British actress Martine Beswick played Bond's assistant Paula Caplan who gets kidnapped.

She also appeared in "From Russia with Love" as the gypsy, Zora.

Now (Age 80): Beswick was in films and television through the '90s including "One Million Years B.C.," "The Six Million Dollar Man," and "Falcon Crest."

Beswick appeared on BBC's "Masterchef" in 2013 with other Bond Girl guests. She also appeared in "House of the Gorgon."

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"You Only Live Twice" (1967): Karin Dor played Spectre assassin Helga Brandt.

Her character was fed to piranhas.

Now: The German actress died in 2017 at the age of 79.

Dor appeared regularly on screen until the late '80s. However she made a comeback to German screens in 2006's "I Am the Other Woman." She died in a nursing home.

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"On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (1969): Diana Rigg played Bond's wife Tracy (Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo).

Rigg appeared on the popular TV show "The Avengers" before starring in the 1969 movie.

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Now: Rigg acted until her death in September 2020 at age 82. You likely recognize her if you watched "Game of Thrones."

Rigg starred as tough-as-nails Lady Olenna Tyrell on "GoT."

Rigg was also the Chancellor of the University of Stirling for 10 years until 2008.She'll appear in the long-delayed "Last Night in Soho."

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"Diamonds are Forever" (1971): Jill St. John played diamond smuggler Tiffany Case.

St. John was originally offered the role of Plenty O'Toole which went to Lana Wood.

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Now (Age 81): St. John went on to work in five films with husband Robert Wagner before retiring in 2002.

In 2014, she played Mrs. Claus in a made-for-TV movie "Northpole" with Wagner who played Santa Claus.

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"Diamonds are Forever" (1971): Lana Wood played the small, but memorable role of Plenty O'Toole.

Bond meets O'Toole at a casino.

Now (Age 75): Wood retired from acting in the mid-80s but resurfaced in several films since 2008.

Wood wrote the best-selling "Natalie, A Memoir by Her Sister" in 1984.

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"Live and Let Die" (1973): Jane Seymour played tarot expert Solitaire.

Recently, Seymour told As Not Seen on TV it was "so wrong" to be cast as Solitaire when the role was written as a Haitian fortune teller.

"You could not and would not make that movie today. It's so wrong but, you know, it was a good movie," Seymour said.

Now (Age 70): Seymour's best known for '90s series "Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman."

Seymour keeps busy both as an ambassador for a non-profit Childhelp and in TV and film roles. In 2017, she appeared on Hulu's documentary "Becoming Bond." In 2018, she posed for Playboy.

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"Live and Let Die" (1973): Gloria Hendry played CIA double agent Rosie Carver.

Hendry was the first African American Bond woman to have a relationship with Bond.

Now (Age 72): Hendry also starred in films "Black Caesar" and "Hell Up in Harlem."

Hendry has appeared in TV movies and series, most recently appearing on 2019's "A Brother's Honor."

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"The Man With the Golden Gun" (1974): Britt Ekland played Bond's assistant, Mary Goodnight.

The actress originally auditioned for the role of Andrea Anders, which eventually went to Maud Adams.

Now (Age 79): Ekland has appeared on TV series since, but has performed in various stage performances of "Cinderella."

Ekland was considered a sex symbol throughout the '70s. She played the Fairy Godmother from 2009 to 2010 at Princess Theatre in the UK. Ekland also appeared on the UK's "Last Dance" in 2018.

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"The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977): Barbara Bach played Soviet KGB agent Triple X.

After appearing in the film, Bach said Bond was "a chauvinist pig who uses girls to shield him against bullets."

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Now (Age 74): Bach married Beatle drummer Ringo Starr (below).

"I think I love Barbara as much [today] as I did [when we met] – and I'm beyond blessed that she loves me and we're still together," Starr told People in 2015.

Together, she and Starr created the Lotus Foundation which funds and promotes charities that help those with substance abuse, cancer, homelessness, and more.

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"The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977): Caroline Munro was cast as Naomi.

Naomi was the first woman Bond explicitly killed in a film.

Now (Age 72): Munro still acts and is known for her roles in horror and sci-fi films.

Munro recently filmed several movies including "House of the Gorgon" and 2020's "The Haunting of Margam Castle."

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"Moonraker" (1979): Lois Chiles played CIA agent Holly Goodhead.

When Bond first meets Goodhead, he's under the impression she's an astronaut.

Now (Age 72): Chiles has appeared in a number of smaller film and TV roles.

She appeared on "Speed 2" and in an episode of "CSI." Chiles hasn't appeared in TV or films since 2006.

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"For Your Eyes Only" (1981): Carole Bouquet played Melina Havelock, the daughter of murdered marine archaeologists.

Bouquet previously auditioned for the role of Holly Goodhead in "Moonraker."

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Now (Age 62): Bouquet modeled for Chanel through the '90s.

Bouquet still acts in French films. She appeared on NBC's 2014 "Rosemary's Baby" miniseries and French TV show "Spin."

In 2017, she starred on Netflix's original series "La Mante" in which she helped hunt down a killer.

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"For Your Eyes Only" (1981): Lynn-Holly Johnson's role as Olympic medalist hopeful Bibi Dahl wasn't coincidence.

At the time, interest in the 1980 Lake Placid winter Olympics was high, and, Johnson happened to be a professional skater.

Now (Age 62): Johnson finished her acting career in 1996 to focus on her family.

In 2007, she appeared in a theater production of "It's A Wonderful Life." Johnson has two children.

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"Octopussy" (1983): Maud Adams returned to the Bond franchise as the titular character.

She previously played Andrea Anders nearly a decade earlier in "The Man with the Golden Gun."

Now (Age 76): Though Adams doesn't act much anymore she frequents Bond events.

She has made television appearances on "Walker, Texas Ranger" and "That '70s Show."

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"Octopussy" (1983): Swedish actress Kristina Wayborn played Octopussy's henchwoman Magda.

Bond lets Magda steal a Fabergé egg with tracking devices in the film.

Now (Age 71): Wayborn went on to appear on television series including "The Love Boat," "Dallas," and "Baywatch."

She reunited with Maud Adams on "That '70s Show."

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"A View to a Kill" (1985): Former "Charlie's Angel" Tanya Roberts played geologist Stacey Sutton.

Roger Moore has said in commentary for the film he felt little chemistry between himself and Roberts.

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Now: Roberts died in January 2021 at age 65.

The actress starred in a few films before landing a role on "That '70s Show."

Roberts left the show in 2001 when her husband became terminally ill. She mostly stayed out of the spotlight before her death in January due to complications from a urinary tract infection.

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"A View to a Kill" (1985): Jamaican singer and model Grace Jones played villain Max Zorin's bodyguard and lover, May Day.

May Day appeared to have super strength.

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Now (Age 73): The singer continues to perform, model, and release music.

In 2015, Jones wrote in her autobiography, "I'll Never Write My Memoirs," said Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Miley Cyrus, and more are all among younger talents who copied her.

"Trends come along and people say, 'Follow that trend'. There's a lot of that around at the moment: 'Be like Sasha Fierce. Be like Miley Cyrus. Be like Rihanna. Be like Lady Gaga. Be like Rita Ora and Sia. Be like Madonna.' I cannot be like them – except to the extent that they are already being like me," Jones wrote.

"I have been so copied by those people who have made fortunes that people assume I am that rich," Jones added.

Jones' most recent album, "Hurricane," was released in 2008.

Her song, "Original Beast" was featured on the soundtrack for "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part I."

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"The Living Daylights" (1987): Former model Maryam d'Abo played Kara Milovy.

She originally auditioned for the part of Pola Ivanova in "A View to Kill."

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Now (Age 60): d'Abo co-wrote 2002's "Bond Girls Are Forever" and produced a documentary of the same name with other Bond girls.

The actress recovered from an aneurysm in 2007 and worked on and starred in a documentary, "Rupture: Living With a Broken Brain," about her injury and recovery with her husband, director Hugh Hudson.

In 2015, d'Abo modeled for retailer JD Williams. She appears in 2020's "Last Words" with Nick Nolte and Stellan Skarsgard.

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"Licence to Kill" (1989): Carey Lowell played pilot and ex-CIA agent Pam Bouvier.

The 1989 film was the first Bond movie that didn't use a title inspired by one of author Ian Fleming's stories. Bouvier fancies Bond as the two work together.

Now (Age 60): Lowell later starred on "Law & Order."

Lowell retired from acting in the late 2000s. She recently returned to TV in 2018 when she appeared as a guest on "Blue Bloods" and "Bull."

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"GoldenEye" (1995): Famke Janssen played murderer Xenia Onatopp.

Onatopp was a member of a crime syndicate. In the film, she attempts to seduce and kill Bond.

Now (Age 56): Janssen was one of the leading ladies in the "X-Men" franchise in the 2000s.

Janssen played Jean Grey for 14 years on and off in the "X-Men" saga. She then starred on one of Netflix's first original shows, "Hemlock Grove." She has also appeared on "How to Get Away With Murder" and in the "Taken" film franchise.

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"Tomorrow Never Dies" (1997): Michelle Yeoh starred as Colonel Wai Lin.

The spy worked alongside Bond. The two share a brief, romantic moment in the film.

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Now (Age 57): Yeoh starred in Oscar-winning movies "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Memoirs of a Geisha."

She also lends her voice to video games. Yeoh appeared in 2018's "Crazy Rich Asians" and 2019's "Last Christmas" with Emilia Clarke.

She was a scene-stealer in September's "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings."

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"Tomorrow Never Dies" (1997): The "Lois & Clark" star played one of Bond's ex-girlfriends, Paris Carver.

Bond attempts to seduce his old girlfriend in "Tomorrow Never Dies." Instead, Paris winds up dead.

Now (Age 56): Hatcher starred on ABC's hit drama "Desperate Housewives."

Recently, Hatcher has appeared on the canceled reboot of "The Odd Couple" and CW's "Supergirl" in a recurring role.

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"The World Is Not Enough" (1999): Denise Richards starred as nuclear physicist Dr. Christmas Jones.

Richards' role was criticized for her silly name and her outfits that felt reminiscent of a video game character.

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Now (Age 50): Richards wrote a memoir called "The Real Girl Next Door" in 2011.

Richards currently stars on "The Bold and the Beautiful." In December 2020, Richards confirmed to People she was leaving "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" after two seasons.

Most recently, she appeared in Lifetime thriller, "Killer Cheer Mom."

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"Die Another Day" (2002): Halle Berry plays NSA agent Jinx Johnson.

Jinx and Bond are lovers in the 2002 film.

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Now (Age 55): Berry continued playing Storm in the "X-Men" films in the 2000s.

Berry is also a Revlon spokesperson and recently appeared alongside Keanu Reeves in "John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum."

Berry is set to star in two 2022 films, "The Mothership" and "Moonfall."

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"Die Another Day" (2002): Rosamund Pike was undercover M16 agent, Miranda Frost.

Miranda Frost also happened to be a double agent.

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Now (Age 42): Pike received a best actress Oscar nomination for her role in 2014's "Gone Girl."

After Pike's breakout role, she appeared in "Pride & Prejudice," "An Education," and "Jack Reacher" before her Oscar nod for "Gone Girl."

Pike is currently a narrator on Netflix's animated series "Archibald's Next Big Thing." She'll appear in Amazon Studios' "The Wheel of Time" adaptation.

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"Casino Royale" (2006): Eva Green played Bond's lover Vesper Lynd in the newest 007 franchise.

Lynd financed Bond in a high-stakes poker game and was someone who, even after her death, had a hold on Bond's heart.

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Now (Age 41): The French actress and model starred in the "Sin City" sequel and "Penny Dreadful."

Green appeared in Disney's 2019 live-action "Dumbo" movie. It was her latest collaboration with director Tim Burton after 2012's "Dark Shadows" and 2016's "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children."

Variety reported in June that Green will star as the lead on Apple TV+'s "Liaison."

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"The Quantum of Solace" (2008): Olga Kurylenko played Bolivian agent, Camille Montes.

Kurylenko told Premiere Magazine she watched Michelle Yeoh's fight scenes in "Tomorrow Never Dies" to help prep for her own in the film.

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Now (Age: 41): Kurylenko most recently appeared in a critical role in "Black Widow."

Kurylenko has appeared in a number of films, including 2013's "Oblivion" with Tom Cruise to 2019's thriller "The Room."

You may not have recognized in "Black Widow" where she played one of the villains.

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"The Quantum of Solace" (2008): Gemma Arterton appeared Strawberry Fields.

Bond found the MI6 agent he seduced dead and covered in oil. Arterton was covered in non-toxic black paint during the scene, which she told the Daily Mail was tough to film.

'I couldn't move, I couldn't see, I couldn't breathe or hear because the oil went in my ears," Arterton said. "It was unpleasant, but it's something I'll always remember and it will be an iconic part of the film.

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Now (Age: 35): Arterton wrote a short story about her character in 2018 called "Woke Bond Woman."

The story is about what Arteton's Bond character, who was seduced by 007, should've done in the 2008 film.

In 2020, Arterton said she'd never take on a role like Fields again, telling The Telegraph, "I know I wouldn't choose a role like that now because she was funny and she was sweet, but she didn't really have anything to do – or a backstory."

Arterton later told The Sun that year, "As I got older I realized there was so much wrong with Bond women."

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"Skyfall" - "No Time to Die" (2012 - 2021): Naomie Harris takes on the role of Eve Moneypenny.

Harris is the fourth actress to play M's secretary in an Eon-produced film. Unlike other versions of the character, this Moneypenny doesn't have an overly flirtatious relationship with Bond. The two respect one another and Moneypenny helps Bond carry out his missions.

Harris' version of the character is the first one to receive a first name, Eve.

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Now (Age: 45): Harris reprised her role in three films and stars in "No Time to Die."

Harris can also be seen in "Venom: Let the be Carnage" as a villain, Shriek.

In between the release of "Spectre" and "No Time to Die," she starred in "Rampage" and "Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle." She also appeared on last year's HBO series "The Third Day."

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"Spectre" (2015): Headlines touted Monica Bellucci as the franchise's "oldest Bond girl," Lucia Sciarra.

Bellucci preferred the title of Bond woman.

"There is this thing in America where actresses reach 40 and go mad. The film industry wants all these young people," Bellucci told The Sunday Times, according to ET online, of playing a Bond woman at 50.

"True sexiness is in the mind, the imagination — not in the age of the body," Bellucci added.

Bellucci's character, Sciarra, was the wife of a "Spectre" agent, who Bond kills.

Now (Age: 57): Bellucci is still acting. You may have noticed her in the "Twin Peaks" revival.

Bellucci has appeared in five films since, including 2018's "Nekrotronic." She also appeared in an episode of 2017's "Twin Peaks: The Return."

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"Spectre"/"No Time to Die" (2015/2021): Léa Seydoux was introduced as Bond's new love interest.

Seydoux plays Madeleine Swann, a psychiatrist who is harboring a big secret.

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Now (Age 36:) Seydoux also reprisesher role in "No Time to Die."

Since her appearance in "Spectre," the "Blue is the Warmest Color" actress performed and voiced a character in Hideo Kojima's video game, "Death Stranding."

She appears in Wes Anderson's delayed "The French Dispatch" this year. Earlier this year, Deadline reportedSeydoux will star alongside Kristen Stewart and Viggo Mortensen in "Crimes of the Future."