Bond Films - Sean Connery Era Actors

James Bond Cast Analysis (1962–1971): Connery, Q, M, and More

The first decade of the James Bond franchise laid the foundation for the spy movie legacy we know today. Between 1962 and 1971, the series introduced many of its most iconic characters, roles, and casting formulas. Here's a detailed look at the key actors across the EON productions who brought these early films to life and helped define the 007 universe.

The Bond Role: Sean Connery’s Era and Notable Deviations

• Sean Connery starred in six of the eight films in this era, beginning with Dr. No (1962) and concluding with Diamonds Are Forever (1971).
• David Niven appeared as Bond in the spoof-style Casino Royale (1967).
• George Lazenby starred in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), his only outing as Bond.

While there were a couple of deviations, Connery's performance bookends this classic period and remains the definitive portrayal for many fans.

Q Branch: From Peter Burton to Desmond Llewelyn

• Peter Burton originated the role of Q in Dr. No, but it was Desmond Llewelyn who took over from From Russia with Love onwards, becoming a staple of the franchise.
• Llewelyn’s portrayal would continue for another 17 Bond films, making Q one of the most beloved recurring roles.

M and Moneypenny: Unshakable Authority and Charm

• Bernard Lee played M in every film during this period. His calm authority gave MI6 continuity across changing Bonds.
• Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny added warmth and wit to the films, appearing in every entry from Dr. No to Diamonds Are Forever.

Felix Leiter: A Role with Many Faces

The CIA liaison role of Felix Leiter varied from film to film, with portrayals by:

• Jack Lord in Dr. No
• Cec Linder in Goldfinger
• Rik Van Nutter in Thunderball
• Norman Burton in Diamonds Are Forever

This inconsistency suggests Felix was seen as a secondary role rather than a central figure like M or Q.

Villains and Blofeld: Introducing Evil Icons

• Villains like Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman), Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe), and Largo (Adolfo Celi) became genre benchmarks.
• The infamous Ernst Stavro Blofeld was portrayed by several actors: Anthony Dawson, Donald Pleasence, Telly Savalas, and Charles Gray, making him both iconic and elusive.

Bond Girls: Archetypes Begin to Take Shape

The era saw the creation of character types that became Bond staples:

• Primary Allies: Ursula Andress, Diana Rigg, Claudine Auger
• Femme Fatales: Fiona Volpe, Rosa Klebb, Helga Brandt
• Sacrificed Bond Girls: Jill Masterson, Aki, Paula Caplan
• Recurring Romantic Interest: Sylvia Trench appeared in the first two films

Cars and Style: The Beginning of Bond’s Tech Appeal

• The legendary Aston Martin DB5 debuted in Goldfinger and reappeared multiple times.
• Earlier entries like From Russia with Love featured a Bentley 3.5 Litre, nodding to Ian Fleming’s original novels.

Final Thoughts: Building the Bond Formula

Despite some experimentation with actors and tone, the early Bond films maintained a remarkably stable cast for MI6 core roles, especially with Bernard Lee, Desmond Llewelyn, and Lois Maxwell. Sean Connery's Bond, paired with a rotating lineup of villains and Bond Girls, defined the tone and legacy of the franchise.

This period set in motion many of the tropes, character structures, and expectations that the Bond series continues to revisit and reinvent to this day.