Eunice Gayson

Eunice Elizabeth Sargaison (17 March 1928 – 8 June 2018), known professionally as Eunice Gayson, was an English actress best known for playing Sylvia Trench, James Bond's love interest in the first two Bond films (Dr. No and From Russia with Love) and is thus considered to have been the first "Bond girl".

Early life Gayson and her twin sister Patricia were born in 1928 in Croydon to John and Maria Sargaison (née Gammon). Her father was a civil servant. The family lived in Streatham, London and moved to Purley, Surrey and later Glasgow, before settling in Edinburgh. There she attended the Edinburgh Academy and studied operatic singing.

Career

Gayson played a major role in the Hammer horror film The Revenge of Frankenstein and appeared on television in series such as The Saint (which starred a future James Bond, Roger Moore) and The Avengers. She played the Baroness Elsa Schraeder in the 1962 London stage production of The Sound of Music, during which time she also filmed scenes for the first two Bond films, Dr. No (1962) and From Russia with Love (1963). She remained a regular in London theatre, appearing in, among other productions, the comedy The Grass Is Greener (1971). In the early 1990s, Gayson appeared in Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods in the role of the grandmother.

Personal life Gayson married the writer Leigh Vance in 1953, a marriage that was featured on the American daytime television series Bride and Groom. They divorced in 1959, and in 1968 she married the film and stage actor Brian Jackson. She and Jackson had a daughter before divorcing after ten years of marriage. Their daughter Kate later appeared in the casino scene in the 1995 Bond film GoldenEye. Gayson died on 8 June 2018, aged 90.

Television Year Title Role Notes 1948 Between Ourselves Television film Halesapoppin! Television film Lady Luck Faith Television film 1949 Pink String and Sealing Wax Emily Strachan Television film The Director Katie Television film Dick Whittington Alice Television film 1950 Here Come the Boys 1 Episode Treasures in Heaven Carol Benson Television film Mother of Men Jennie Television film 1953 Guess My Story Self – Panelist 1959 Juke Box Jury Self – Panelist 1 episode 1960 What's My Line? Self – Guest Panelist Episode: "George Jessel (2)" 1964 Danger Man Louise Bancroft Episode: "A Man to Be Trusted" 1964–1965 The Saint Nora PrescottChristine Graner Episode: "The Invisible Millionaire"Episode: "The Saint Bids Diamonds" 1966 The Avengers Lucille Banks Episode: "Quick-Quick slow Death" 1967 Before the Fringe 2 episodes The Dick Emery Show 1 episode Further Adventures of Lucky Jim Episode: "Jim Cleans Up" The Reluctant Romeo Gina Darletti Episode: "What's in a Name" 1968 The World of Beachcomber 1970 Albert and Victoria Madame Aix Episode: "The Gothic Church"Episode: "Lovers' Quarrel" Turkey Time Louis Stoatt Television film 1972 The Adventurer Countess Marie Episode: "Thrust and Counter-Thrust" 2012 This Morning Self 1 episode 2013 The Playboy Morning Show Self 1 episode