Timothy Dalton, known for reinventing the James Bond role in the late 1980s with a more serious and gritty portrayal, starred as the iconic spy in two films: The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill. This marked a shift in how the Bond girls were portrayed, moving away from the traditional damsel-in-distress archetype to strong characters who actively assisted Bond in his missions. Here, we look at the Timothy Dalton Bond girls and explore what paths their lives and careers have taken since starring alongside the British spy.
Maryam d’Abo’s Career and Life After Portraying Kara Milovy
Maryam d’Abo played Kara Milovy, a cellist and the reluctant girlfriend of villain General Georgi Koskov in Dalton’s first Bond film, The Living Daylights. Kara initially supports the villain but eventually teams up with Bond after discovering Georgi’s true intentions. This role was a breakthrough for Maryam, marking her first major film part following smaller roles in movies like Xtro and If Tomorrow Comes.
After her Bond stint, Maryam secured leading roles in several television series such as Something Is Out There, and made appearances in shows including Murder, She Wrote. Her filmography expanded with projects like An American Affair, Helen of Troy, Dorian Gray, and Tigers. Even decades later, Maryam remains active in acting, recently portraying a Mother Superior in the 2022 horror film The Baby in the Basket.
On a personal front, Maryam married acclaimed director Hugh Hudson, known for Chariots of Fire, in 2003. They were together for two decades until his passing in February 2023. In 2007, she survived brain haemorrhage surgery and has since made a full recovery. Reflecting on her Bond role, Maryam acknowledged in an interview with The Guardian:
“I take responsibility for not having had enough confidence. I was quite shy. I hadn’t been a child actor. But I’m not blaming Bond for screwing up my career. I’ll never regret it.”
– Maryam d’Abo, Actress
Belle Avery’s Brief Appearance as Linda in The Living Daylights
Belle Avery’s role in The Living Daylights was small but memorable. She portrayed Linda, a woman encountered by Bond after he parachutes onto a luxury yacht following a training mishap in Gibraltar. Linda’s brief but notable line about wanting a real man before meeting Bond remains a highlight of her scene.
Though Belle’s acting career was limited, she transitioned successfully into film production. Her producing credits include popular projects such as The Meg, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, and My Sexiest Year. This shift allowed her to maintain a presence in the entertainment industry outside of acting.
Carey Lowell’s Role as Pam Bouvier and Subsequent Career
Carey Lowell gained recognition as Pam Bouvier in the 1989 film Licence to Kill. Her character was a tough, no-nonsense former Army pilot who assists Bond in dismantling the drug empire of Franz Sanchez. Pam’s expertise as a pilot was crucial in aiding Bond’s mission.
After her Bond appearance, Carey pursued a successful career in both film and television. She appeared in titles such as Sleepless in Seattle, Love Affair, and the comedy Fierce Creatures. However, her most prominent role was as Assistant District Attorney Jamie Ross on Law & Order from 1996 to 2001, returning briefly in 2022. She also guest-starred in episodes of the spin-off Law & Order: Trial by Jury.
Carey has been married three times, including to photographer John Stember and actors Griffin Dunne and Richard Gere. She has two children: actress Hannah Dunne with Griffin Dunne, and a son with Richard Gere. Her divorce from Gere in 2016 involved high-profile legal disputes, which were settled later that year.
Talisa Soto’s Journey from Model to Actress Playing Lupe Lamora
Talisa Soto played Lupe Lamora in Licence to Kill, portraying the girlfriend of drug lord Franz Sanchez who ultimately chooses to break free from his control. Though Lupe initially falls for Bond, by the film’s conclusion she develops feelings for Hector Lopez, the president of Isthmus.
Before her Bond role, Talisa had a successful modeling career, gracing the covers of fashion giants such as Vogue, Elle, and Glamour, and starring in campaigns for Calvin Klein, Versace, and Revlon. She transitioned into acting during the late 1980s, debuting in a minor role in The Pope of Greenwich Village.
Since her Bond days, Talisa has appeared in films like The Mambo Kings, Island of the Dead, and La Mission. Her most notable role after 007 was Princess Kitana in the 1995 cult classic Mortal Kombat and its 1997 sequel Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.
Talisa married actor Costas Mandylor in 1997, divorcing three years later. In 2002, she wed actor Benjamin Bratt, whom she had met a decade earlier during a casting call. They have two children together, daughter Sophia and son Mateo, and remain married.
The Legacy of Timothy Dalton’s Bond Girls in the Entertainment World
Despite Timothy Dalton’s brief tenure as James Bond, his Bond girls broke new ground by embodying empowered and essential partners in the spy’s adventures. Maryam d’Abo’s evolution from a debut film actress to a respected figure in television and film, Carey Lowell’s transition to a sustained television career, Talisa Soto’s successful crossover from modeling to notable acting roles, and Belle Avery’s shift into film production all exemplify the varied paths his co-stars have taken.
The portrayal of these characters helped redefine the concept of Bond girls, paving the way for more complex female roles in the franchise. As these actresses continue their careers and personal journeys, their contributions remain a significant part of the legacy left by Timothy Dalton’s era of Bond films.
