▲The German film actor who played Goldfinger spoke little English and said his lines phonetically. His voice was later redubbed by English actor Michael Collins.

▲Helicopters are a favorite mode of transport in Bond films. They are also preferred methods of attack. In fact, the only Bond film since 'From Russia with Love' not to feature a helicopter is 'The Man with the Golden Gun.'

▲'Quantum of Solace' is a direct sequel to 'Casino Royale.' The title was chosen from a short story in 'For Your Eyes Only,' a collection of short stories by Ian Fleming published in 1959.

▲We all know Bond likes a drink. Up to 'Casino Royale,' Bond is seen to knock back 114 drinks. That's equivalent to one drink every 24.3 minutes! But Daniel Craig's Bond has the strongest liver—his 26 drinks in 'Casino Royale' and 25 in 'Spectre' top the lot.

▲Overall, the Bond franchise has grossed more than US$16.3 billion when adjusted for inflation. 'Skyfall' (2012) is the biggest earner to date, grossing US$1.2 billion and turning in a profit of more than US$910 million.

▲James Bond 007 has a charmed life, it seems. Agents 002, 003, 004, and 009 have been killed. Agent 006 was Sean Bean's character in 'GoldenEye,' and he didn't last long. And nothing is known about 001 nor 005.

▲The British secret agent has been shot over 4,660 times during his career.

▲The other actress is Diana Rigg, who was 31 to George Lazenby's 30 when they starred together in 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' (1969).

▲Two actresses have been older than the actor playing Bond. Honor Blackman was 37 and Sean Connery 34 when they appeared together in 'Goldfinger.'

▲At the age of 30, Australian actor and former model George Lazenby was the youngest actor to have portrayed Bond.

▲British author Roald Dahl, whose novels include 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,' wrote the screenplay for 'You Only Live Twice' (1967), adapted from the Ian Fleming novel of the same name.

▲In some countries, the Johnny English series of 007 spy spoofs starring Rowan Atkinson are known as the "Little Brother of James Bond."

▲M's real name is revealed during the course of Daniel Craig's James Bond films. She's called Olivia Mansfield.

▲Two Bond films share the same plotline: 'Thunderball' (1965) and 'Never Say Never Again' (1983). Both star Sean Connery as 007.

▲Younger brother of Sean, Neil Connery (pictured with Daniela Bianchi) starred in a 1967 made-for-laughs Bond spoof called 'O.K. Connery.' One of the better reviews described the film as "unbelievably inept."

▲Sean Connery's fight choreographer on 'Never Say Never Again' (1983) was Steven Seagal. He managed to break Connery's wrist while training.

▲The UK's foreign intelligence service, MI6, is headquartered at the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) building in London. The existence of SIS was not officially acknowledged until 1994.

▲Style matters in Bond movies, and while under contract to play the secret agent, Pierce Brosnan was forbidden to wear a tuxedo in any non-Bond film.

▲Did you know that Batman was once considered for the role of Bond? That is, Adam West (pictured), who played the original caped crusader on TV. Other actors suggested as 007 include Cary Grant, Burt Reynolds, and Sam Neill.

▲Bond's initial weapon of choice was the Italian Beretta 418, the so-called "pocket pistol.' But as he shot to fame, he started using the Walther PPK.

▲Ian Fleming lived in Jamaica on a sprawling oceanfront estate he called Goldeneye. He's pictured in his study where he wrote many of his novels. 'GoldenEye' is the title of the 17th James Bond movie produced by Eon Productions.

▲Entertainer Sammy Davis Jr filmed a cameo scene for 'Diamonds are Forever' (1971). It was deleted from the final cut.

▲The awesome car barrel roll stunt in 'Casino Royale' with the Aston Martin DBS smashed the Guinness world record for the most car barrel rolls assisted by a nitrogen cannon. The car completed seven full rolls.

▲Despite his physique, Roger Moore was self-conscious about the way he ran. He felt he looked awkward full stride. So his running was always performed by a body double.

▲At 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in), Daniel Craig is the shortest Bond actor. But what he lacks in stature he definitely makes up for in physique.

▲By way of thanks from the car manufacturer for his role as James Bond, actor Daniel Craig has the privilege of taking any Aston Martin model from the showroom for the rest of his life.

▲Christopher Lee was a contender for the role of Bond. Ironically, he later played one of Bond's most cunning adversaries, the mysterious Scaramanga, the man with the golden gun.

▲Bond creator Ian Fleming based much of the character's mannerisms on himself. Fleming smoked, preferred coffee to tea, loved women, and was a commander in the British Navy. Oh, and he liked his martini's shaken, not stirred.

▲Standing 2.2 m (7 ft 2 in), Richard Kiel was one of the scariest Bond villains. He could only keep his metal teeth in his mouth for about 30 seconds at a time, so his scenes were deliberately kept, er, short.

▲The "female" pilots at the controls of the planes during the Flying Circus sequence over Fort Knox in 'Goldfinger' were in fact men wearing blonde wigs.

▲Due to her heavy accent, Swiss actress Ursula Andress, who played Honey Ryder in 'Dr No' (1962), had her voice dubbed by Nikki van der Zyl.

▲For a while, Judi Dench's ringtone was the James Bond theme. Apparently during the filming of 'Skyfall' (2012) her cell phone went off, to howls of laughter from the crew.

▲President John F. Kennedy named Ian Fleming's novel 'From Russia with Love' among his 10 favorite books of all time—and the film version was the last movie he saw at the White House before traveling to Dallas in November 1963.

▲"Little Nellie," the autogyro Bond flies in 'You Only Live Twice' (1967), was named after British music hall star Nellie Wallace.

▲Bond's creator, Ian Fleming, tapped out his novels using a Golden Royal Portable, a rare (18-carat) gold-plated typewriter.

▲George Lucas cast Sean Connery as Henry Jones, Sr in 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' (1989) on the strength of his performances as James Bond. Director Steven Spielberg had also been a fan of Connery's work as 007 and felt that no one else could perform the role as well.

▲M's elegantly furnished London townhouse in 'Skyfall' (2012) is the former home of composer John Barry (pictured), who scored 11 of the James Bond films between 1963 and 1987.

▲Q's real name is Major Boothroyd, a title so far only mentioned in three Bond films: 'Dr No' (1962), 'From Russia with Love' (1963), and 'The Spy Who Loved Me' (1977). And what does 'Q' mean? Quartermaster!

▲James Bond's favorite drink is vodka martini, shaken not stirred. The character has so far downed 21 of these cocktails in 24 official Bond movies.

▲Daniel Craig wears Tom Ford throughout 'Skyfall' (2012). For the film's action-packed opening sequence, the actor was given 85 copies of Bond's suit. His tailor must have been working overtime!

▲Sean Connery and George Lazenby are the tallest big screen Bonds, both standing 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in).

▲Bond producer "Cubby" Broccoli was impressed with Sean Connery's potential as James Bond. But he wanted a second opinion. So he asked his wife Dana to verify the actor's attractiveness to women. She was impressed, and Connery became Bond.

▲Thailand's Ko Khao Phing Kan Island served as Scaramanga's hideout in 'The Man with the Golden Gun' and is now known as "James Bond Island."

▲Christopher Lee was Ian Fleming's step-cousin.

▲'Live and Let Die' (1973) holds the record for the most-viewed broadcast film on television in the United Kingdom, as it attracted 23.5 million viewers when it premiered on the ITV channel on January 20, 1980.

▲Across the first 24 films, 007 has dispatched a total of 405 villains.

▲

Despite an all-star cast that included David Niven (as Sir James Bond), Orson Welles, Peter Sellers, and Woody Allen, 1967's 007 spoof 'Casino Royale' is the least successful Bond film, grossing just under US$278 million worldwide when adjusted for inflation.

▲

Lashana Lynch (right), the new 007, with fellow cast members Léa Seydoux, Ana de Armas, Naomie Harris, and Daniel Craig. James Bond is still male, but the latest Bond film 'No Time to Die' features the first female with a 007 license to kill.

▲

Actress Shirley Eaton is forever remembered as the Bond girl that was daubed with gold paint and left to die from "skin suffocation." It took an hour-and-a-half to apply the paint to her body.

▲

From 'Dr No' (1962) to 'Spectre' (2015), James Bond has slept with 58 women. Smoothie Roger Moore heads the cast, with 17 romantic liaisons over seven films.

▲

Ever wondered where the name James Bond comes from? One of Ian Fleming's favorite books was a bird-watching guide compiled by American ornithologist Dr. James Bond. The author felt the mundane name was strong and masculine, and just what he needed. Thus, a second James Bond was born.

▲

After original Bond producer Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli's death in 1996, the responsibility of controlling Eon Production and the Bond movie franchise fell to his daughter Barbara (pictured with Daniel Craig).

▲

Adele wrote and performed the theme song to 'Skyfall.' It subsequently won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The movie also picked up an Oscar for best sound editing. 'Goldfinger' (sound effects) and 'Thunderball' (visual effects) are so far the only other Bond films to win Oscars.

▲

The iconic sports car made its debut in 'Goldfinger' (1964), complete with gadgets. A toy Aston Martin DB5 car from Corgi Toys became the biggest selling toy of 1964.

▲

This is Rock Point estate in the Bahamas, where a segment of 'Thunderball' (1965) was filmed. The house served as villain Emilio Largo's hideout and still features the swimming pool stuntman Bill Cumming jumped into when full of sharks, earning a US$450 bonus into the bargain.

▲

James Bond 007 is the most famous fictional spy in the world. But how much do you know about the British secret agent and his life on-screen, and off?

Browse the gallery and get ready to be shaken and stirred.

▲Liam Neeson was reportedly offered the role as 007 in 1995's 'GoldenEye' but turned it down. He would later display typical Bond attributes in the thriller 'Taken' (2008).

License to thrill: Here's all you need to know about James Bond

October 5 is Global James Bond Day

05/10/22 por StarsInsider

MOVIES Spy films

James Bond 007 is the most famous fictional spy in the world. But how much do you know about the British secret agent and his life on-screen, and off?

Browse the gallery and get ready to be shaken and stirred.