Safira Afzal (Bond Girl)

By: Anders Frejdh

Published:
2010-10-01

Octopussy Girl in OCTOPUSSY 1983

FSWL contributors and friends, Andy Miller and Bernard VandenDriessche, met up with the gorgeous Safira Afzal (one of Octopussy's girls in Octopussy (1983)) at Autographica in London, September 2010. They kindly provided the photos below exclusively for this website.

Andy commented: "Safira is a lovely looking lady who was very friendly and said she really loved being part of the Bond story, albeit small, and said how much fun was had by all the girls at the Palace in India."

About Safira Afzal:
Born in Wah Cantt (cantonment) Army HQ Military Hospital on September 2, 1960. Wah Cantt is a military city, (Pakistani Ordnance Factories) located in the Punjab province of Pakistan, 19 miles north west of Rawalpindi/Islamabad. At the time, her father travelled for work between a home in Wah Cantt and Lahore, the capital city of the Pakistani province of Punjab.

In 1962 Safira’s father immigrated to London leaving his wife and two young daughters behind in search of an enhanced life. And in 1967 Safira, her (younger) sister and mother also immigrated to London. Safira’s first school was Roe Green Infant & Junior School in Kingsbury, northwest London.

Although Safira started her career as a Legal Executive (previously employed at international law firm Nabarro Nathanson), having been blessed with both beauty and brains, it was not long before her striking good looks were discovered and she began receiving modeling offers both in the UK and abroad. Safira was one of a bevy of beauties in the James Bond film Octopussy with Roger Moore, Maud Adams and Kristina Wayborn.

It was Safira’s first film role and it took her back to her roots when the film went on location to India. Safira’s appearance was brief but it guaranteed her Bond Girl status.

Safira appeared in numerous TV Commercials (including “Panama Six Appeal” and “Glade Air Fresheners”) and featured in Eddie Grant’s music video Romancing the Stone, the title track from the popular Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito action comedy.

Safira was also chosen to represent Miss India for an American Beauty Pageant entitled 'The Most Beautiful Girl in the World Pageant', filmed in Hawaii. The show went out live by Dick Clark Productions, the world’s largest producer and proprietor of televised events (including Miss America), hosted by David Hasselhoff and Englebert Humperdinck, with Lana Turner as one of the judges.

Whilst working in the wholesale fashion industry, Safira also studied for a Law degree (LLB) and Masters Degree (LLM). Safira Afzal was called to the Bar in 1998 and has since been practicing as a criminal Barrister. Currently, Safira is a member of the General Management Committee of the Bar Council and a member of the Honorable Society of the Middle Temple.

Safira Afzal received the Freedom of the City of London on 20th September 2011 at The Chamberlain's Court, Guildhall, London.

Other cast & crew members from Octopussy that FSWL has met:
>Alan Hume (director of photography)
>Albert Moses (Sadruddin)
>Alison Papworth (Octopussy girl)
>Andrew Noakes (administrator)
>Anthony Waye (assistant director)
>Arthur Wooster (second unit director)
>Barbara Broccoli (assistant director)
>Bill Weston (stunt double for Louis Jourdan)
>Carole Ashby (Octopussy girl)
>Cherry Gillespie (Midge)
>Cheryl Anne (Octopussy girl)
>Colin Miller (sound editor)
>David Meyer (Miska)
>Dermot Crowley (Major Kamp)
>Desmond Llewelyn (Q)
>Eva Rueber-Staier (Rublevitch)
>George Leech (stuntman)
>Helene Hunt (Octopussy girl)
>Janine Andrews (Octopussy girl)
>Jeremy Bulloch (Smithers)
>Jim Dowdall (stunt double for Roger Moore under train)
>John Barry (soundtrack composer)
>John Glen (director)
>John Grover (supervising editor)
>John Richardson (special effects supervisor)
>Kabir Bedi (Gobinda)
>Lois Maxwell (Moneypenny)
>Malcolm Weaver (stuntman)
>Martin Grace (stunt supervisor)
>Mary Stavin (Octopussy girl)
>Michael G. Wilson (producer and screenwriter)
>Monty Norman (composer of "The James Bond theme")
>Paul Weston (stunt fight arranger & stunt supervisor)
>Peter Davies (editor)
>Peter Lamont (production designer)
>Philip Voss (Auctioneer)
>Remy Julienne (stunt driver)
>Richard Le Parmentier (U.S. Aide)
>Rocky Taylor (2nd unit stunt arranger)
>Steven Berkoff (General Orlov)
>Terry Cade (stuntman)
>Tony Meyer (Griska)

Written and updated by Anders Frejdh in May 2015

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#actresses

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