Britt Ekland On Man With The Golden Gun (1974)

By: Anders Frejdh

Published:
2014-11-25

Britt Ekland Man with the Golden Gun interview

For the 40th anniversary in December of The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), FSWL founder Anders Frejdh (who celebrate his 40th birthday three weeks ahead of the anniversary) caught up with the famed Swedish Bond girl Britt Ekland to talk about her work on the film directed by Guy Hamilton.
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In 2008, AF did another interview with Britt Ekland published simultaneously on FSWL and Sir Roger Moore's website, read the previous interview.
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[FSWL] Can you tell us how you landed the role in The Man with the Golden Gun? How had your past roles prepared you for the film?
[Britt Ekland] My Father used to read Ian Fleming's books when I was a child so I was familiar with the name. I was already an established actress when I read that they were doing a new James Bond film and having seen Ursula Andress in Dr. No (1962) I wanted to be a Bond Girl and I bought the book and made an appointment to see Cubby (Albert R. Broccoli), the producer and told him I wanted to play secretary "Mary Goodnight", he basically said that the script wasn't finished and I left for the States to do another movie.

[FSWL] From your first meeting with Cubby Broccoli, how did working for him go? Did you spend much time with producer Harry Saltzman?
[Britt Ekland] I loved Cubby, he was the most kind and generous producer I had ever met and he was very much a family man so of course his wife Dana and daughter (Barbara) were there on location as was my two children, Victoria and Nicholai. (Although I met Harry he was not really an "on set" producer like Cubby.)

[FSWL] The film was shot primarily at Pinewood and Thailand?
[Britt Ekland] The film started shooting on location in Bangkok, then moved to Phuket and Hong Kong finishing up in England at Pinewood Studios.

[FSWL] Can you remember what your first thoughts where upon arriving in Thailand? Is it true upon arriving the cast and crew stayed in a brothel?
[Britt Ekland] As a Swede and a total sun bunny, I loved the idea of going to Thailand but Bangkok was very polluted and hot and humid and it was very difficult to stay dry and fresh looking. It is not true that we stayed in a brothel, we stayed at the first class hotel, The Oriental, in Bangkok but when we went to Phuket to film exteriors for "Scaramanga's" compound we stayed in a brothel with generators to have electricity as Phuket was just a small village with a completely empty beach and no hotels!

[FSWL] Can you tell us about filming in Hong Kong?
[Britt Ekland] I loved Hong Kong but again it was very polluted.

[FSWL] There are many funny stories about actor Herve Villechaize, can you remember any?
[Britt Ekland] No not really, he was a very private person when not filming but we were told that girls were crazy about him. He was always a very lovely person to be with on set and of course his French accent was very funny.

[FSWL] How was it working with Roger Moore and Christopher Lee? Can you remember any jokes Roger got you with?
[Britt Ekland] Christopher Lee was also a very private and professional person, we never saw him outside filming but I did become friends with his Danish wife.

Roger Moore was great fun to work with and not at all Star Like and distant like some famous actors I have worked with. He was always in a good mood and a very energetic and positive actor.

[FSWL] Did you know Maud Adams before shooting the film? Can you tell us a little about working with Maud on the film?
[Britt Ekland] No, I didn't know Maud, we flew to Bangkok together and became very good friends and still are. I think the only scene I had with Maud was when I hid in the wardrobe but I don't think we ever had a dialogue. We spent a lot of time together when we weren't working.

[FSWL] Which is your fondest memory from the production?
[Britt Ekland] I think the fact that I went to Cubby Broccoli and asked to be in the film and I then became a Bond Girl, is something I am very proud of.

[FSWL] Where there any scenes that you filmed but for some reason was cut in the final version?
[Britt Ekland] No not to my knowledge.

[FSWL] What do you think of Daniel Craig as James Bond?
[Britt Ekland] I think Daniel Craig is a very modern Bond which young people like and that is important.

[FSWL] Describe the experience of being part of the James Bond legacy.
[Britt Ekland] As I have said many times, it is like being in a very exclusive club with membership all over the world.

MANY THANKS TO BRITT EKLAND FOR TAKING TIME FOR THIS INTERVIEW.

Photo above:
Publicity still of Britt Ekland for The Man with the Golden Gun. Photo by Bob Penn. © © 1974 Danjaq S.A. & United Artists Corporation. All rights reserved.

For information about Britt Ekland's acting career, check out her profile on IMDB:

www.imdb.com/name/nm0001180/

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#britt_ekland

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Britt Ekland On Man With The Golden Gun (1974)

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