Sci-Fi Bulletin: Exploring the Universes of SF, Fantasy, Horror and Spy-fi!

Nikki van der Zyl, who dubbed the voices for many of the female stars of the 007 films in the 1960s, has died aged 85.

She started dubbing thanks to a family friend, Robert Rietti (himself utilised on the Bond series), and in 1962 dubbed three parts in Dr. No – Ursula Andress (Honey Ryder), Eunice Gayson (Sylvia Trench) and Dolores Keator’s Mary (Strangways’ secretary). She dubbed Gayson once more in From Russia With Love, as well as the hotel clerk in Istanbul. In Goldfinger, she provided Shirley Eaton and Nadja Regin’s voice, and assisted Gert Frobe with his English.

For Thunderball, she dubbed Claudine Auger; for You Only Live Twice she provided Mie Hama’s. Her appearances in OHMSS and Diamonds are Forever were smaller although she said she provided parts of Jane Seymour’s lines in Live and Let Die and  Corinne Cléry and Leila Shenna in Moonraker. For The Man with the Golden Gun she dubbed Francoise Therry.

Her other genre work included Ursula Andress’ voice for She, Sue Lloyd for The Ipcress FIle and Eva Renzi in Funeral in Berlin. She also provided Raquel Welch’s voice for One Million Years BC among other roles.