TheJames Bondfranchise has been in existence since the first film’s release in 1962. Based on thenovel series by Ian Fleming, the story follows the life of James Bond, a secret agent under MI6, also known as 007. So far, there have been a total of 27 Bond films, with more set to be releasedas early as 2025. Many of the films have been regarded as the best spy films to ever hit the silver screen, earning a number of awards and making stars out of its cast.
Considering how many Bond films have been made, there are even more characters that filmmakers have graced us with. From Honey Ryder to Goldfinger, the variety of characters seems never-ending. Some characters get the attention they deserve, while others get left to the wayside despite being deserving of some much-needed attention as well.These are the 10 most underrated characters in the James Bond franchise.
10Luigi Ferrera — For Your Eyes Only
Perhaps one of the most overlooked characters in the entire franchise, Luigi serves as Bond’s Italian correspondent on his mission inFor Your Eyes Only. He provides Bond with vital intelligence surrounding Emil Locque, the killer Bond is trying to hunt down. Luigi arranges a meeting between 007 and Kristatos, who fools them both into believing he is a good informant, when he is actually the villain. Luigi is sadly killed, with a pin left on his body that Bond returns to Locque before pushing him off a cliff to avenge his death. Luigi should get more attention for his sacrifice.
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9Baron Samedi — Live & Let Die
Live & Let Dierevolves around voodoo and dark magic, so it only makes sense for one of the villains to be such a person. Baron Samedi is a voodoo figure that works with Mr. Big to strike fear into his enemies, acting as a sort of henchman. Known for his fat laugh and his entertaining performances for tourists, Samedi is announced as initially immortal, which proves to be true as he turns up at the end of the film, despite appearing to have been killed by being bitten by a number of poisonous snakes. Samedi’s charisma makes him one of the most entertaining villains in the entire franchise.
8Octopussy — Octopussy
Maud Adams portrayed two characters in the franchise, but the one to really stand out is the titular character she portrays inOctopussy.A tactful businesswoman and jewel smuggler, Octopussy leads the Octopus Cult, a group of acrobatic women who occupy the floating palace. While initially the villain of the film, it’s come to fruition that she is being used by General Orlov for the greater purpose of destabilizing NATO, while Octopussy simply smuggles jewels. Highly intelligent and unafraid to put up a fight, she proves that not all villains are what they seem.
7Xenia Onatopp — Goldeneye
Colonel Xenia Onatopp was a former Soviet fighter-pilot and a ruthless assassin hired to take Bond out inGoldeneye. She is a fierce fighter who gives Bond a run for his money. While Xenia is hypersexualized, in reality she should be feared for her ability to take a life with such ease. While she is known as acertified Bond Girl, she is so much more than that as her KGB training gives her the edge she needs to take down her enemies in her own sadistic way.
6Kissy Suzuki — You Only Live Twice
Kissy Suzuki is a Japanese ninja agent who works with Bond undercover as a married couple to find Blofeld’s secret base. What makes her outstanding is her resistance to James Bond’s charms, unable to be seduced by him and focusing on their work. While she eventually does warm up to him, Kissy does not give up her values for his smooth-talk. Kissy Suzuki is often forgotten as her role inYou Only Live Twiceis rather small, but her strong-willed character dedicated to doing good is one of a kind.
5Fiona Volpe — Thunderball
Thunderballbrought us not only one of the most iconic theme songs of all time, but some of the best characters to ever come from the franchise including Fiona Volpe. A deadly member of SPECTRE, Fiona is a fiery woman who uses her femininity as a weapon to get what she needs, even flipping the script and seducing Bond to get him to drop his defenses. Volpe is often lost in the mix ofThunderball, and dies in a rather anticlimactic way, but she should not be underestimated.
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4Q — Skyfall
While Q is a recurring character in the Bond franchise, most notably inSkyfall, he is often overlooked. He not only provides Bond with any gadget he could ever need to get out of a jam. While Bond is a huge talent, without Q’s intelligence and clever inventions, he would have certainly been in a pickle. Q is sadly overlooked and highly underrated as a character of vast intelligence who is brain over brawn and proves that you should work smarter not harder.
3Oddjob — Goldfinger
Goldfingeris arguably the best Bond film in the entire franchise. From the perfectly crafted villain to some of the most iconic quotes to ever emerge from cinema, it is truly a wonderful film, but there is one character who is vastly underrated and wildly overlooked — and that is Oddjob. Oddjob served as Goldfinger’s personal chauffeur and bodyguard. He is a mute whose steel-rimmed hat also served as a lethal weapon. While most Bond fans will have heard of Oddjob, he is often laughed at because of his name and his hat, but he is truly a force of nature that nearly takes Bond out.
2Vesper Lynd — Casino Royale
Perhaps one of the most controversial characters is Vesper Lynd. She was the HM Treasury liaison officer and was a love interest of Bond inCasino Royale. Vesper is an intelligent woman who is able to judge people quickly after she’s just met them. She had an aversion to violence after witnessing a murder, but she nonetheless uses her skills of manipulation to get Bond out of a bad position. Vesper’s betrayalbroke Bond’s heart, which caused her such grief that she wound up allowing herself to drown. Her sacrifice granted her martyrdom as Bond would forever remember the woman he loved.
1Kerim Bey — From Russia With Love
From Russia With Loveis considered one of the best Bond films ever made, and for good reason. The film is jam-packed with complex and interesting characters, one of whom is Ali Kerim Bey. Kerim Bey is Bond’s contact in Istanbul, who provides him with a great deal of valuable intel. Kerim is a charming man that shares many traits as James Bond, still able to take his job seriously while also finding humor in his work when needed. He ultimately met his end on the Orient Express train, when he and Benz fight and wind up killing one another.
