What is Ursula Andress's Net Worth?
Ursula Andress is a renowned Swiss actress and former model with a net worth of $25 million. Her iconic role as Bond girl Honey Ryder in the 1962 James Bond movie, "Dr. No," catapulted her to international fame. She further established her film career with notable appearances in "Fun in Acapulco," "She," "The Blue Max," "Casino Royale," "Slave of the Cannibal God," and "Clash of the Titans." In her personal life, she was romantically linked with several famous men, including Jean-Paul Belmondo, Ryan O'Neal, and Harry Hamlin.
Early Life
Born on March 19, 1936, in Ostermundigen, Switzerland, Ursula Andress was the third of six children to Anna and diplomat Rolf Andress. Her siblings are Heinz, Erika, Charlotte, Gisela, and Kàtey. After her father was expelled from Switzerland for political reasons, Andress was raised by her grandfather. She attended school in Bern and later studied art in Paris. She moved to Rome and worked as a nanny before venturing into acting.
Career Beginnings
Andress began her acting career in Italian films during the mid-1950s, securing walk-on roles in movies like "An American in Rome," "The Sins of Casanova," and "La Catena Dell'odio." She moved to Hollywood in 1955, signing a seven-year contract with Paramount Pictures, but her reluctance to learn English resulted in limited opportunities. Eventually, she bought herself out of this contract and briefly signed with Columbia Pictures.
Hollywood Breakthrough in Dr. No
Ursula Andress achieved global stardom in 1962 by portraying Honey Ryder in the first Bond film, "Dr. No." Despite her lines being dubbed due to her strong accent, her emergence from the Caribbean Sea in a white bikini with a knife became an iconic cinematic moment.
Further Film Career
Following her role in "Dr. No," Andress starred in the 1963 Elvis Presley musical "Fun in Acapulco" and the Western comedy "4 for Texas." Her career flourished in 1965 with five films, including "Nightmare in the Sun," "She," "What's New Pussycat?", "Up to His Ears," and "The 10th Victim." She played significant roles in "The Blue Max" with George Peppard, "Once Before I Die," and the James Bond parody "Casino Royale." The late 60s saw her in "Anyone Can Play" and "The Southern Star."
In the 1970s, Andress appeared in movies such as "Perfect Friday," "Red Sun," and several Italian films including "Stateline Motel," "Loaded Guns," "Africa Express," and "The Sensuous Nurse." She also featured in the cult horror movie "Slave of the Cannibal God" and other notable works like "Tigers in Lipstick" and "The Fifth Musketeer." Her career extended into the 1980s with roles in "Clash of the Titans," "Red Bells," and later appearances in the "Fantaghirò" and "Cremaster" series.
Television Career
Andress ventured into television with an appearance in the 1962 anthology series "Thriller." After a long hiatus, she returned to TV in the 1980s with episodes in "Manimal," "The Love Boat," and the miniseries "Peter the Great." She also had a three-episode arc on the primetime soap opera "Falcon Crest" in 1988.
Relationships
Ursula Andress's personal life was as adventurous as her career. She had numerous high-profile relationships, beginning with French actor Daniel Gelin. After moving to America, she dated James Dean and Dennis Hopper before having an affair with John Derek, whom she married in 1957 and divorced in 1966. Her subsequent romances included actors John Richardson, Marcello Mastroianni, Jean-Paul Belmondo, and Fabio Testi.
In 1979, Andress started a relationship with her "Clash of the Titans" co-star, Harry Hamlin, with whom she had a son, Dimitri. They separated in 1983. She later dated Fausto Fagone and had other relationships with personalities like Ryan O'Neal, John Delorean, Franco Nero, Helmut Berger, Gerardo Amato, and Julio Iglesias.