Former Bond girl Madeline Smith has recalled being asked to undress just moments before filming a scene. However, she said her contract contained no clause requiring her to do so.
This incident occurred while Smith was filming the 1970 horror film The Vampire Lovers. The 77-year-old British actress recalled that the demand's sudden timing left her feeling she had little choice but to comply.
'No Girl Now Would Do It'
In a Daily Star interview published on 8 November, she described learning about the requirement while working on The Vampire Lovers. Smith was 20 years old at the time of filming. 'It was demanded of you. I mean, in [1970 film] The Vampire Lovers, it was demanded of me seconds before I did the scene', she said. 'I had no choice, there was nothing in the contract'.
The actress stated she accepted the role after reading the screenplay, not knowing she would be expected to expose herself during filming. She contrasted this with her belief that actresses today have greater bargaining power and would likely decline such requests without substantial compensation.
'I got this wonderful script, and I obviously took it. I had no idea that I would be required to unbutton my blouse, as it were', she said. 'No girl now would do it unless they were given trillions'.
British actress and model Madeline Smith in the early 1970s.
— Things From the Past (@pastarchive) November 5, 2026
Known for her appearances in Hammer horror films, including The Vampire Lovers (1970), she later played Miss Caruso opposite Roger Moore in Live and Let Die (1973), becoming the first Bond girl of the Roger Moore era. pic.twitter.com/8mIvY7R78e
Her Role in The Vampire Lovers
The Vampire Lovers is a 1970 British horror film directed by Roy Ward Baker and produced by Hammer Film Productions and American International Productions. Sheridan Le Fanu's short story Carmilla inspired the film, which follows Marcilla, a mysterious vampire played by Ingrid Pitt, as she becomes involved with several young women.
Smith portrayed Emma Morton, a central character whose life is disrupted by Marcilla's arrival. The production became known for its erotic themes and depictions of female nudity, distinguishing it within Hammer's horror catalogue.
This film was among Smith's early screen roles and helped establish her presence in British cinema while she was also working as a model. Her subsequent credits include Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970), Up Pompeii (1971), and Carry On Matron (1972).
When Roger Moore Unzipped Her Dress
Smith later gained widespread recognition for her role as Miss Caruso opposite Roger Moore in the 1973 James Bond film Live and Let Die. In the opening scene, Bond uses his 'magic watch' gadget to unzip her dress.
The actress has previously described Moore as a gentleman during filming, noting that her experience with him differed from the pressures she faced earlier in her career. She also worked with prominent performers, including Ava Gardner, Tony Curtis, and Alec Guinness.
Despite uncomfortable circumstances on The Vampire Lovers, Smith maintains a positive perspective on her early career. She has also expressed gratitude for the opportunities her acting career provided.
'I have been so fortunate', she said. 'That's why I will not moan about the taking off of the clothes and all that. I cannot. I was so lucky. I had such joy, and I loved every second of it'.
A promotional photo of Roger Moore and Madeline Smith for the Bond film LIVE AND LET DIE (1973). pic.twitter.com/fogk3BWlbg
— The Retro Reminiscer (@RetroReminiscer) January 18, 2023
Madeline Smith featured in the October 1973 issue of Photoplay starring with Roger Moore in Live And Let Die. pic.twitter.com/PpgkVE1EEX
— Film & TV In Print (@PrintFilm) September 24, 2017
Why She Thinks Acting Is Harder Today
Smith also reflected on how opportunities for aspiring performers have changed since she began her career in the entertainment industry in the 1960s. While she found the profession relatively accessible in the past, she believes it is now more challenging for younger generations to find work.
'It's so difficult now for kids. You can go and be educated to your ears and still not getting any work', she said. 'It's almost impossible to get your foot in the door now and it was so easy in the 60s'.
Smith recently joined the cast of Kenneth Williams: A Centenary Celebration, a stage production inspired by the diaries of British comedian and Carry On actor Kenneth Williams (1926–1988). The production marks the 100th anniversary of his birth.
