First Bond Girl Says She Was Victim of $23M Scam

Italian authorities have seized approximately $23 million in property, artwork, and financial holdings connected to money allegedly taken from actress Ursula Andress. Officials with Italy’s financial police announced Thursday that the assets, located in and around Florence, were confiscated as part of an investigation into suspected fraud.

The case began after Andress reported to authorities in Switzerland that she had been deceived by financial advisers who managed her money. According to the Associated Press, the advisers are suspected of misappropriating large sums from the actress over several years.

In January, the 90-year-old actress told the Swiss newspaper Blick that she had lost about 18 million Swiss francs—roughly $23 million—during an eight-year period. She said the money had been taken by a longtime financial adviser who has since died.

Andress described the experience as deeply upsetting. She said she believes she was deliberately targeted and manipulated over many years. According to her account, those involved built trust with her before ultimately exploiting it to take control of her assets.

Investigators say the stolen funds were moved through a series of transactions meant to disguise their origin. Authorities allege the money was invested in companies abroad and then used to purchase various assets in Italy. The investigation traced the funds to the acquisition of 11 real estate properties and 14 parcels of land used for vineyards and olive groves. Additional purchases included artwork and other financial investments located in Florence and nearby parts of the Tuscan countryside.

Andress, who was born in Switzerland, rose to international fame as the first Bond girl, Honey Ryder, in the 1962 film Dr. No. Her appearance emerging from the ocean in a white bikini became one of the most iconic scenes in the James Bond franchise. She later appeared alongside Elvis Presley in Fun in Acapulco and worked with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin in Four for Texas.

After her Hollywood success, Andress continued acting primarily in European films and television before stepping away from the industry in the early 2000s. Italian authorities say their investigation into the financial fraud and the seized assets is ongoing.