Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya),
"From Russia With Love"
(1963) Swanky, slick 007 has contended with numerous villains
through all the James Bond pictures, and many of the deadliest threats have been
women. With villainesses including the unforgettable Pussy Galore, May Day or
Xenia
... more Onatopp, Bond has frequently had his hands (and bed) full of furious
femmes. But our favorite Bond baddie comes with a decidedly nonsexually
suggestive name and really, no sexual interest in Bond at all (she's probably
more interested in Miss Galore, truth be told) -- she's Rosa Klebb (played
by the fantastic Lotte Lenya), a diminutive though masculine and tough-as-nails
killer who shows up in Venice to snuff out Bond. How? Via poisoned daggers
concealed in a pair of her shoes. Death through footwear? So she's not that
masculine after all. Apparently her role made an impression on viewers: The
actress said people would often ask to see her shoes -- just to be safe.
(Everett Collection)Close
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