'GoldenEye' - Production Notes

Read a transcription of the original GOLDENEYE production notes sent to the press months ahead of the release of the film in November 1995.

A NEW WORLD - A NEW JAMES BOND

For the first time in the '90s, James Bond, Ian Fleming's inimitable Agent 007, brings his trademark combination of action, style and wit to the big screen in GoldenEye.

Though the 16 previous Bond films had pretty much run the gamut of titles from Ian Fleming's novels and short stories, the filmmakers still wanted to pay homage to the man who created the legendary secret agent. The title GoldenEye is taken from the name of Fleming's home in Jamaica, where he first began writing the James Bond novels in 1952.

In the six years since the last Bond adventure, the world has undergone quite a bit of upheaval. However, producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli reflect that Bond's popularity had already endured through the equally tumultuous '60s, '70s and '80s.

"James Bond has always been a contemporary character who lives for the present," Wilson says. "He will always be dealing with the here and now."

To direct the film, the producers turned to New Zealand-born filmmaker Martin Campbell, who had recently helmed another high-action film, No Escape. Wilson offers, "Martin has been living and working in Europe for the last 20 years, and I think that's important to a Bond film; it gives a certain texture and flavor. He's also an excellent director when it comes to working with actors, and he's certainly good with action. He was a natural choice."

Martin Campbell jumped at the opportunity, ever aware that he was taking on a movie legacy. "Bond has been going onscreen for over 30 years, and there are certain things you don't tamper with--the tailored suits, martinis, tongue-in-cheek humor and, of course, his womanizing--all of that is still intact. He's the kind of romantic anti-hero that we don't see a lot of now."

A team of talented writers collaborated on finding new ways to place the entire world at risk...and even more innovative ways for 007 to save it. Jeffrey Caine and Bruce Feirstein wrote the screenplay for GoldenEye from a story by Michael France.

Producer Wilson, who had scripted five earlier Bond adventures, notes, "Writing a Bond movie is always an interesting challenge. I think we got a mixture of good, solid writers on GoldenEye. Every one of them contributed something important to the film, and I think the result is outstanding."

Even as these creative aspects were coming together, perhaps the most vital element was yet to be decided: the man himself. Who would be the new James Bond?

Eight years earlier, a handsome young Irish actor had caught the imagination of Bond fans and almost captured the part. In 1994, the same actor again topped public opinion polls and, more importantly, was the unanimous choice of the filmmakers. In June of that year, Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli and United Artists jointly announced that film and television favorite, Pierce Brosnan, had been cast as Ian Fleming's James Bond.

Brosnan reflects, "It was something that came in and went out of my life in '86, and though I certainly didn't just wait in the wings for it to come back, come back it did. When something happens in your life a second time, it carries a certain significance. In any case, it's not a job you take lightly; there's an audience out there, 33 years standing, so it's a big responsibility."

The actor adds that he's been a part of that audience for many of those years, having seen Goldfinger back in 1964. "I was a 10-year-old lad from the bogs of Ireland, and there was this beautiful gold lady on a bed--naked. It made quite an impression on me...and now, here I am in GoldenEye."

"If you look back at all the various actors who have played Bond," says Campbell, "they've all brought entirely different characteristics to the role. Now we've got Pierce, who has all the right qualities. He is not only a very fine actor, but is wonderful with the humor, fantastic at action and is a terrific looking guy with a real classiness to him."

Wilson agrees, "Pierce was absolutely the right choice. He has the looks, the charm and the sophistication that the part requires. But Bond also has to be a veteran--an experienced secret agent--and Pierce plays that perfectly." Brosnan offers that the script for GoldenEye gave him added incentive to tackle the role. "It was very tight, very sharp and very funny, with intrigue, betrayal and great action sequences--all the ingredients that make a Bond movie tick."

FRIENDS AND FOES

Some of the most memorable moments in the Bond series have been provided by the incomparable "Bond girls" and the diabolical villains Agent 007 has faced. GoldenEye introduces worthy additions to both categories.

Campbell notes, "I think the women in this film are far stronger than they have been in the past and certainly not as reliant on James Bond. Both Xenia and Natalya are quite capable of looking after themselves."

Famke Janssen stars as the desirable but deadly Xenia Onatopp. The actress was cast on the heels of her starring role in another United Artists film, Lord of Illusions.

"I was thrilled," Janssen declares. "Xenia gave me a great opportunity to be all the things I would sometimes like to be but could never get away with. Xenia is a killer who definitely enjoys life."

"I think every man wants to be James Bond...and it's always been my secret desire too. Xenia comes very close: she loves to drive fast, shoot guns, gamble...and she loves men--in her own way. There's a kind of animal attraction between her and James," she adds laughing, "because Xenia's definitely an animal."

Izabella Scorupco won the role of Natalya Simonova, a Russian computer programmer who is thrust into an initially uneasy alliance with Bond. She was discovered in Sweden during an international casting search that encompassed the United States and Europe.

"I loved the part of Natalya," Scorupco declares. "She's very strong and very brave, and she has a lot more energy than I've ever had--always on the run and escaping."

The actress adds that she has no problem with the designation given to the women of past Bond adventures. "I don't mind being called a 'Bond girl'; I take it as a compliment. I've always loved the Bond films--the glamorous locations, the extraordinary situations--so even if they'd had me running around on high heels and sighing, 'Oh James,' I would have done it. For me, it's being part of a legend. It's just fantastic."

Heading Bond's opposition in GoldenEye is Sean Bean as Alec Trevelyan, who, as Martin Campbell points out, is not your typical Bond villain. "We wanted someone who was Bond's equal, both physically and mentally, rather than some madman trying to take over the world, so when they finally confront each other, it's a hell of a fight."

Bean affirms, "When we first meet Alec, he appears to be a trusted friend and ally of James Bond. He's a highly trained secret service agent who has risen to the top by using his wits and razor sharp reactions. They are a good match--each knowing that the other can be a totally professional, ruthless killer when he wants to be--so the final confrontation between them is powerful and very spectacular."

"I like playing the villain," the actor continues, "if it's a strong, meaty part like this. The villain has always been an integral ingredient to the success of the Bond films, and Trevelyan is a good adversary to Bond in this adventure."

Screen veteran Joe Don Baker had previously squared off with James Bond in a decidedly different role in The Living Daylights. In GoldenEye, he returns to the series as CIA operative Jack Wade, who provides capable, if somewhat unorthodox, backup for 007. The pairing of Brosnan and Baker also presents a comedic contrast between the smooth and sophisticated British agent and the brash and burly American with a penchant for gardening.

"I think I'm one of only a couple of actors to play two different parts in the Bond movies," Baker muses. "I've played both villain and hero now, and it's difficult to say which I prefer. In general, you tend to have more fun playing a bad guy, but if it's a good guy like Jack Wade, who has a lot of colors to him, then that's a lot of fun too. There are many levels to Wade, which made him an interesting role to play...and I'd welcome the chance to do it again." The Bond films have several time-honored traditions, three of the most beloved of which are Agent 007's colleagues in Her Majesty's Secret Service: M, Q, and Miss Moneypenny.

In a break with tradition, however, Bond's boss, known only as M, is being played for the first time by a woman, esteemed British stage and screen actress Dame Judi Dench. As M, the actress utters a line to 007 that is destined to become a Bond classic, "I think you are a sexist, misogynist dinosaur."

"She just nails him," Brosnan laughs. "It adds a distinctly different slant to Bond's relationship with M. As an actor, working with Judi was certainly one of the highlights of the movie for me. She's a magnificent actress, a great lady and a wonderful person."

Dench recalls, "I was absolutely delighted when I got the call, because I've been a huge Bond fan for years and Bernard Lee, who originally played the part, was a great friend of mine. I can now refer to myself as a Bond woman, and will indeed for the rest of my career."

"I enjoyed playing M," she adds. "She adopts quite a tough line in this movie, but, then again, how would you become head of MI6 by being anything but tough?"

Returning for his 15th Bond adventure is Desmond Llewelyn, playing the ingenious Q, the inventor of the amazing gadgets that have gotten Bond out of more than his share of tight spots. His exasperated admonition, "grow up, 007," has now been directed to every actor to portray James Bond over the last three decades.

Llewelyn has become so identified with the character of Q that fans are often caught by surprise at his own admitted ineptitude with gadgets. "I'm hopeless," he confesses. "I can't fix anything; I can hardly put a kettle on, let alone set a video. I've been in hotels with those plastic card keys and I put my card in and, of course, it sticks. Somebody comes to help me, recognizes me and says, 'Well, I would think you ought to be able to do it.'"

Samantha Bond--no relation--appears in her first Bond movie as M's efficient assistant, Miss Moneypenny.

Completing the collection of friends and foes are: British television favorite Robbie Coltrane as the dangerous Russian arms dealer Valentin Zukovsky; actor and writer Alan Cumming as the traitorous computer wizard Boris Grishenko; distinguished German actor Gottfried John as the sinister Russian General Ourumov; venerable French stage and screen actor Tcheky Karyo as Russian Defense Minister Dimitri Mishkin; and Minnie Driver in the cameo role of a Russian Country & Western singer.

NEW HEADQUARTERS

When England's Pinewood Studios, the traditional home of the Bond movies, was unable to provide the large scale spatial requirements of GoldenEye, the filmmakers were faced with making alternative arrangements. After looking in Europe, Canada and the United States, the decision was made to find a site in England that could be utilized as a studio.

Executive producer Tom Pevsner and associate producer Anthony Waye were instrumental in finding the solution: an abandoned wartime plane factory and airfield in Leavesden, England, owned by Rolls Royce. After a formal lease was negotiated, Rolls Royce ultimately gave Eon Productions carte blanche in converting the factory into a working studio and the company wasted no time in getting underway.

The production team turned to Delta Doric, the company responsible for rebuilding the original 007 stage in record time after a devastating fire in 1984. Within five months, Leavesden's cavernous space was transformed into Europe's newest film facility with 1.25 million square feet of interior space--enough to cover the whole of Pinewood Studios. Five working soundstages were constructed, as well as a carpenter shop, prop shop, paint shop, model shop, a special effects stage, dressing rooms, office space, and more. In addition, the enormous backlot, with two clear skylines, could support several major productions simultaneously.

Production designer Peter Lamont, a veteran of 15 Bond films, made quick use of the vast space, which soon housed the diverse and expansive GoldenEye sets, including MI6 headquarters, the Severnaya control station, the opulent Monte Carlo casino, the nerve gas plant infiltrated by Agents 007 and 006 in the film's opening, a lavish Turkish bath and spa in St. Petersburg's Grand Hotel Europa, Trevelyan's ultra modern satellite control room, and Valentin's lair where he is confronted by his old nemesis, James Bond.

Without question, the most daunting task faced by Lamont and his team was the re-creation of the streets of St. Petersburg on Leavesden's huge backlot for the film's spectacular tank chase sequence. Though much of the chase would be accomplished on location in St. Petersburg, the level of anticipated destruction made shooting some portions in the historic city impossible.

It took 175 workmen just over six weeks to complete the St. Petersburg set. Sixty-two miles of scaffolding were used to support the fabricated street that was constructed over an area of two acres. Lamont and his team of talented artisans then outfitted the set with authentic Russian-style telephone kiosks, statues, advertising and street signs.

Portions of the set were designed as breakaways with brick-size thermalite blocks, so when the tank bursts through the audience sees rubble and bricks, not plaster. Lamont also mounted one of the huge, removable walls on rollers. This enabled the crew to extend the length of the street or make it an altogether different vista by just rolling the wall away and replacing it with a new background.

Second unit director Ian Sharp had the privilege of overseeing most of the counterfeit St. Petersburg's demolition in the tank chase--much to his delight. "Martin Campbell directed quite a bit of the action, so don't let him tell you that we had all the fun," he laughs. "But we had some great stuff to do--with all the tanks and trucks and such. It's every boy's dream, with life-size toys."

Being the sole project filming at Leavesden was a godsend to the production, given that shooting would also take place at various locations around the world. When the company was filming away from the studio, the extensive sets could remain up and intact, saving substantial time and money.

GLOBAL LOCATIONS

Despite the enormity of Leavesden, no James Bond adventure could ever be confined to a studio. GoldenEye's schedule necessitated three, sometimes four, separate film units to shoot concurrently in several far-flung, exotic locations around the globe. The cast and crew traversed oceans and continents, from Puerto Rico to Switzerland and from St. Petersburg to the French Riviera.

Executive producer Tom Pevsner, who had previously worked as an associate producer on five Bond movies, attests, "I think this was the most complicated shoot we've ever accomplished. It involved more than an average amount of relatively short foreign location shoots, and each foreign location is difficult to organize, regardless of the length of time you're there. The sheer number and diversity of the locales made it a very complex operation."

"The problem, organizationally, is keeping straight in your head what everyone else is filming at any one particular time, and knowing how it's going to cut into whatever sequence you're working on," director Martin Campbell agrees. He credits everyone involved for helping everything to run smoothly. "I was lucky because I had a great team: Ian Sharp on second unit and Arthur Wooster on another...and cinematographer Phil Meheux, with whom I've worked a great deal, has done a superb job with the photography--very stylish. It's terrific if you have good people, and we had the best. It makes a tremendous difference."

GoldenEye marks the first time that a James Bond adventure has ever filmed inside the former Soviet Union--a point made all the more interesting by the fact that this is the same country that had banned the general release of all 16 previous Bond films. The story also denotes the first occasion that 007 has openly travelled to Russia. (Details of his more clandestine visits remain top secret.)

If recreating St. Petersburg on the backlot of Leavesden had proved challenging, filming in the actual city also offered some formidable obstacles. Built in the 18th Century and caught behind the Iron Curtain for the better part of the 20th Century, the city was architecturally stunning, but lacked any kind of technical infrastructure. State-of-the-art equipment was virtually non-existent. When the company wanted to run a tank down one of the streets, they learned that the sewers were made of concrete and laid on a bed of sand on top of a swamp. The vibrations from the tank could actually cause the entire sewer system to drop into the swamp.

In order to persuade the Russians to allow the tank into the country in the first place, the filmmakers had to prove that it was deactivated. And then they had to explain about the pyrotechnics and explosive materials needed for special effects sequences.

In addition, the end of Communism had not shortened the miles of "red tape," and almost 150 permits were required from every utility and commission in the city. Even then, filming was forced to come to a complete halt one day when the local media reported that the production was destroying the city. It took almost an entire day to convince the authorities that the only thing being destroyed was the fabricated scenery.

Working on her first large-scale production, Izabella Scorupco could understand the bewilderment of the Russians. "It's just amazing to see how much you can destroy in one second," she marvels.

The Principality of Monaco was the site of a perilous car race down the narrow, twisting mountain roads above the Grand Corniche. It is the first provocative encounter between Bond, driving his classic Aston Martin DB5, and the mysterious Xenia Onatopp in a fiery red Ferrari.

The two meet face-to-face in the elegant Monte Carlo casino, where 007 utters his classic line, "The name is Bond, James Bond."

Brosnan acknowledges, "Of course, you do think about it. I mean, it's one of those lines that are in people's consciousness, like 'to be or not to be.' You find yourself brushing your teeth in the morning going, 'the name is Bond, James Bond.' Ultimately, I had to have the confidence to just stand there and deliver; you look 'em in the eye and keep it simple."

In the harbor of Monte Carlo, scenes were shot on the French Navy's newest warship, Lafayette, named for the famous French hero of the American Revolutionary War. On its deck is the advanced helicopter dubbed the Tiger, the first of five prototypes built by France and Germany and capable of performing a once-impossible vertical loop.

In Switzerland, the Contra Dam near Lugano was chosen for one of the most breathtaking stunts ever achieved on film. It is certain to take a deserving place in the annals of the unforgettable pre-title sequences that set each Bond film in motion. Stunt coordinator Simon Crane and stuntman Wayne Michaels orchestrated an astounding bungee jump off the top of the dam, a world's record for a leap against a fixed object--all 750 concrete feet of it.

Michaels executed the jump--twice--and attests, "It's pushing the limits of what can physically be done. The loading on the ropes is extreme and the body is travelling at such a high rate of speed that it puts a great deal of strain on you. You're trying desperately to hit a pocket of air that will take you away from the wall, and the winds that are whipping around the bowl of the dam toss you like a leaf."

Towards the end of the jump, Michaels had only milliseconds in which to pull a gun out of his pocket to complete the scene. "There was nothing that was gonna stop me from getting that damn gun out, I can tell you," he states.

The film's thrilling climax was partially filmed on the sun-drenched island of Puerto Rico. There, the world's largest spherical radio telescope at Arecibo doubled for Trevelyan's satellite dish aimed at a worldwide cataclysm. It also served as the backdrop for the final life-and-death confrontation between two evenly-matched adversaries: Agent 007 and former Agent 006. Simon Crane worked extensively with Pierce Brosnan and Sean Bean to choreograph the suspense-filled battle.

WARDROBE AND WIDGETS

James Bond has always exemplified the epitome of style and sophistication, and costume designer Lindy Hemming was determined to create a wardrobe that was both classic and timeless for the new Agent 007. "We wanted to be sure that Pierce Brosnan had an elegant and modern look, but one that wouldn't appear dated in a few years' time. We avoided things that were aggressively trendy."

Collaborating with Martin Campbell, she adds, "We decided that this Bond would be a man who always wore his suit; that most of the time he didn't go looking like he was ready for action, but then things happened to him."

Hemming and the filmmakers chose Brioni, the internationally renowned men's tailor, to make all of Bond's suits. Their work also entailed making as many as 17 identical copies of each suit for repeated takes, as well as mention stunt doubles. Every suit was individually hand crafted by Brioni.

Hemming also designed Brosnan's black combat gear, in which we first see him, together with the specialized waistcoat with customized pockets for weapons and explosives. When the director saw the finished costume, he decided Sean Bean, as Agent 006, should have an identical set, as if it were secret agent standard issue.

The costumes for Famke Janssen and Izabella Scorupco were designed to vividly reflect their contrasting personalities and lifestyles.

Janssen is the height of fashion in an elegant black velvet gown, reminiscent of the Wicked Queen in Snow White. She is also seen in such stunning outfits as a lycra crepe cat-suit and a stretch satin two-piece ensemble with a huge black hat from Philip Somerville, the hat maker for many of England's Royal Family. Even her military style wardrobe, including an olive-green leather uniform with knee-length boots and a peaked cap, was custom-designed. All of her costumes were created to accentuate her height and give her an aura of mystery and danger.

On the other hand, Scorupco's wardrobe was relatively plain. Her character is supposed to be a young working woman in Russia and would not be wealthy. Therefore, for much of the film, she is seen in a simple skirt and blouse, topped by a cardigan. Though all of her clothes were actually designer fashions, Hemming put them together in an ordinary way.

Hemming found that one of the greatest challenges of wardrobing her first Bond film was having the right number of costumes in the right place at the right time for the various film units working simultaneously. "There are usually three units filming at the same time," she says, "and two of them are not in the same country that you're in. It was an exercise in logistics."

As important an accoutrement to Agent 007 as his stylish wardrobe are his fantastic gadgets, provided by Q, which have captured the imagination of audiences the world over.

"Ideas for gadgets come from a variety of sources," Michael Wilson offers. "The special effects department, the art department, the director, Cubby, Barbara...we've had lots of people working on the film come up with clever ideas."

In GoldenEye, Bond is armed with several new devices, including a leather belt with a buckle that fires 75 feet of high tensile wire designed to hold 007's weight, and a seemingly ordinary ball point pen that becomes a deadly grenade with three clicks of the button. He also utilizes a watch with a built-in laser, and previews an X-ray document scanner built into a silver tray.

Bond's most impressive new tool-of-the-trade, however, is his new BMW Z3 roadster convertible...which comes standard with stinger missiles behind the headlights, naturally. A two-seat sports car, it was previewed by the filmmakers in BMW's design center and selected as 007's "company car" for GoldenEye. It was built in BMW's plant in South Carolina.

"Many of the gadgets we come up with are not that far removed from what will be developed in the near future," Wilson says. "We tend to be just slightly ahead of reality, and, as time passes, we begin to see the same ideas becoming adapted in real life."

IT'S A WRAP

Combining explosive action, heart-stopping stunts and trademark humor, the 17th James Bond action adventure has all the elements to make it a worthy successor to the series. It is a mixture of tradition and invention, never forgetting what the fans have come to expect while inviting a new generation to come along for the ride.

"There was something about Bond, and there still is," reflects Campbell. "You think about the audiences who have enjoyed him for over 30 years...and yet there must be a completely new generation who know little about him apart from reruns on television. It seems incredible to me."

And what of the new James Bond?

"People are going to be waiting to see," Brosnan admits, "and that's what gives it an edge; that's what makes it exciting. That's the focus: to make it as big and as wonderful and as thrilling as possible...and hopefully have colossal fun doing it."

ABOUT THE CAST

PIERCE BROSNAN stars as the legendary Commander James Bond, Agent 007 of the British Secret Service.

An internationally popular actor, Brosnan received his training on the London stage. He first soared to prominence on television and went on to earn widespread praise for his feature film work. Recently, he proved a perfect foil for Robin Williams in the hit comedy Mrs. Doubtfire and then co-starred with Warren Beatty and Annette Bening in Love Affair. He previously won critical acclaim for his performance in Bruce Beresford's compelling drama Mr. Johnson, and kept audiences on the edge of their seats in the international hit sci-fi thriller The Lawnmower Man. Among his additional film credits are The Fourth Protocol, Nomads, The Deceivers and The Long Good Friday.

Brosnan was catapulted to stardom in the mid-1980s in the title role of the hit NBC series Remington Steele. The series gained a loyal following for its perfect blend of crime-solving adventures with light romantic comedy, and Brosnan delighted viewers with his consummate portrayal of the pseudo-detective. He has also starred on television in such top-rated mini-series as Around the World in Eighty Days, Noble House and The Manions of America. In addition, he earned a Golden Globe nomination for his work in the 13-part BBC series Nancy Astor.

Born in County Meath, Ireland, Brosnan moved to London at the age of 11. He studied at the Drama Centre and, upon graduating from school, became an assistant stage manager at the York Theatre Royal. Six months later, the legendary playwright Tennessee Williams selected him to create the role of McCabe in the British premiere of Red Devil Battery Sign. The young actor went on to star in such prestigious London stage productions as Zeffirelli's Filumena, and Wait Until Dark at the York.

In 1980, he won the lead role of Irish rebel Rory O'Manion in the American mini-series The Manions of America. His strong performance won the attention of critics and audiences, which ultimately led to his casting in the long-running series Remington Steele.

While starring on that show, Brosnan showcased a perfectly-timed wit and rakish sophistication that made him the overwhelming favorite to take over the role of James Bond. Though contractual obligations prevented him from taking the part at the time, a decade later there was nothing to stand between him and GoldenEye.

In recent years, Brosnan has become an effective and articulate advocate for the health concerns of women. He serves as the Ambassador for Women's Health Issues for the Permanent Charities Committee of the Entertainment Industries, and, in that capacity, addressed key members of the U.S. Congress about the plague of ovarian cancer, which claimed his wife Cassandra.

SEAN BEAN is Alec Trevelyan, Bond's former compatriot Agent 006, who presents his old friend with a stunning revelation.

Bean was previously best known to American audiences for his starring role as an Irish terrorist obsessed with revenge against Harrison Ford in Patriot Games. He also starred with Richard Harris in the critically acclaimed drama The Field, and as Farmer Grey in the latest film adaptation of Anna Sewell's classic Black Beauty.

Most recently, he starred in When Saturday Comes, for which he revelled in the chance to play soccer alongside his idols of his hometown team, Sheffield United. His other film credits include Caravaggio, Lorna Doone, Stormy Monday and Windprints.

Born and raised in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, Bean was accepted to the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, where he won the silver medal for his graduation performance in Waiting For Godot. He made his professional debut as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet at the Glasgow Citizens Theatre and then starred as Romeo in the Royal Shakespeare Company's presentation of the same. His stage repertoire also includes productions of Fair Maid of the West, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Deathwatch, and Last Days of Mankind for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Glasgow Citizens Theatre.

On television, Bean garnered enormous attention for his performance as gamekeeper Mellors in Ken Russell's controversial four-part adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterly's Lover, and as Lovelace in the BBC's Clarissa. Presently, he is earning praise for his portrayal of Lieutenant Sharpe in Sharpe, a series of two hour films for television. He has also been seen in such projects as A Woman's Guide to Adultery, Fool's Gold, Inspector Morse, Prince, Tell Me That You Love Me, Troubles, My Kingdom For a Horse and War Requiem.

IZABELLA SCORUPCO stars as Natalya Simonova, the beautiful systems programmer who survives the first explosive demonstration of GoldenEye's power and becomes Bond's courageous ally.

Though a new face to American film audiences, Scorupco has enjoyed success overseas as an actress, singer and model. Born in the northern Polish village of Bialystok, she moved to Sweden with her mother as a young child. She studied drama and music and, at 17, was discovered by a Swedish film director who cast her in the movie No One Can Love Like Us, which made her a local teenage idol.

She then became a successful model in Sweden and throughout Europe, where she made good use of her fluency in four languages. In 1989, Scorupco displayed another facet of her talents, launching her career as a pop singer with her first single, Substitute. The single and subsequent album, IZA, both went gold, and she followed with another hit single, Shame, Shame, which she recorded in 1991.

Returning to acting in 1994, she immediately won the lead role in the Swedish film Petri Tears. Scorupco stars as a woman who lives her life as a man in the medieval drama, which was released in August 1995.

FAMKE JANSSEN stars as the lasciviously lethal assassin Xenia Onatopp, whose idea of safe sex is crushing and deadly, and who proves to be a formidable--albeit alluring--adversary for James Bond.

Janssen recently starred opposite Scott Bakula in Clive Barker's supernatural thriller Lord Of Illusions, which marked her first starring role in a major motion picture.

Born in Holland, Janssen moved to the United States where she has made her home for the last eleven years. Initially settling in New York, she majored in writing and literature at Columbia University and studied stagecraft with Harold Guskin. She then went to Los Angeles, where she continued her acting training under the tutelage of Roy London.

Janssen soon landed guest roles on such successful television series as The Untouchables, and Star Trek: The Next Generation, in which she had a memorable turn as Captain Picard's love interest. She made her feature film debut in Fathers and Sons, starring Jeff Goldblum.

JOE DON BAKER plays Bond's cynical CIA contact Jack Wade, whose unprepossessing appearance and obsession with gardening belies a seasoned professionalism.

Baker first gained international fame as the quintessential tough guy in the action blockbuster Walking Tall. However, in the over two decades since, he has showcased his versatility in a wide range of film and television projects.

This past summer, he starred in the hit action-adventure Congo, and he includes among his other recent film credits the offbeat comedy Reality Bites, the urban drama Panther, Martin Scorsese's thriller Cape Fear and the Eddie Murphy comedy The Distinguished Gentleman. He will next be seen in The Grass Harp, in which he stars with Walter Matthau.

Baker played an international arms dealer in The Living Daylights, giving him the distinction of playing two decidedly different roles in two separate Bond movies. His other notable film credits include Fletch, The Natural, The Killing Time and Criminal Law, which was helmed by GoldenEye director Martin Campbell. He made his feature film debut in the classic drama Cool Hand Luke.

On the small screen, he received critical acclaim for his portrayal of a CIA agent in the award-winning BBC series Edge of Darkness, also directed by Martin Campbell. He has also been seen in such longform projects as HBO's Citizen Cohn, Complex of Fear, Traps and The Kari Swenson Story, as well as the series Eischeid.

JUDI DENCH becomes the first woman to star as Bond's boss, the head of British Intelligence, known only as M.

One of Britain's most esteemed actresses, she received the Order of the British Empire in 1970 for services to the theatre, and subsequently became a Dame of the British Empire in 1988. She has also been honored with numerous other awards in a distinguished career spanning four decades and encompassing stage, screen and television.

She won a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in A Room With a View and another in the same category for A Handful of Dust. Her other recent feature film credits include Kenneth Branagh's Henry V, Jack and Sarah, 84 Charing Cross Road and Wetherby.

Dame Judi has been a favorite of British theatre audiences since her first appearances at the Old Vic nearly forty years ago in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, First Fairy in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Maria in Twelfth Night. Over the last 10 years alone, she has starred in such plays as the National Theatre productions of A Little Night Music, Absolute Hell, The Seagull, The Sea, Hamlet, Entertaining Strangers and Anthony and Cleopatra, for which she won the Olivier, Drama Magazine and Evening Standard Awards for Best Actress; Mother Courage, Waste and The Gifts of the Gorgon with the Royal Shakespeare Company; and The Plough and the Stars at the Young Vic; as well as presentations of The Cherry Orchard and Coriolanus. In addition, she directed productions of Much Ado About Nothing, Look Back in Anger, Macbeth and Boys From Syracuse.

She has also worked extensively on British television, including a starring role in the series A Fine Romance, for which she won a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series. Dench earned an ACE Award for Mr. and Mrs. Edgehill, and includes among her other credits The Browning Version, Ghosts, Make and Break, Behaving Badly, Can You Hear Me Thinking?, The Torch, Absolute Hell and As Time Goes By.

ROBBIE COLTRANE portrays the erstwhile KGB controller Valentin Zukovsky, who has found his way in the post-Soviet world as a ruthless Russian arms dealer.

Though he first came to fame as one of Britain's most noted comic actors, Coltrane has also proven his range in more dramatic roles. His films credits include: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; Oh What a Night; The Pope Must Die; Perfectly Normal; Nuns on the Run; Henry V; Bert Rigby, You're a Fool; Mona Lisa; Caravaggio; Absolute Beginners; Krull; Defence of the Realm and Britannia Hospital.

Currently, Coltrane is starring as a criminal psychologist named Fitz in the hugely successful Granada Television series Cracker. His portrayal has brought him numerous Best Actor honors, including two consecutive BAFTA Awards, a Cable ACE Award, a Royal TV Society Award, and a Broadcasting Press Guild Award.

Earlier in his career, he was nominated for a BAFTA Award for his work in John Byrne's drama Tutti Frutti, for BBC Scotland. In addition, he appeared in several successful Comic Strip television films, one of which he also directed, and was seen in the 1984 Comic Strip feature film The Supergrass.

Coltrane was born in Glasgow, Scotland and trained at the Glasgow School of Art, earning a diploma in painting and film. At the start of his career, he produced and directed a 50-minute documentary entitled Young Mental Health, which won the 1973 Scottish Education Council Film of the Year Award.

During the mid-1970s, he worked with the San Quentin Theatre Group, the Bush Theatre and the Traverse Theatre Company, appearing at the last in the original production of John Byrne's The Slab Boys. His more recent theatre credits include the one-man shows: Your Obedient Servant, at the Lyric Hammersmith; and Mistero Buffo, in which he toured Scotland.

GOTTFRIED JOHN plays the ruthless Russian General Ourumov, whose response to the new world order is to become a founding member of the mysterious Janus Syndicate.

One of Germany's most respected actors, John has worked with some of his country's most noted filmmakers, including the late Rainer Werner Fassbinder who directed him in such films as The Marriage of Maria Braun, Despair, In a Year of 13 Months and Mother Kusters Goes to Heaven. His English-speaking film credits include Billy Wilder's Fedora, Chris Petit's Chinese Boxes and Joseph Sargent's Of Pure Blood. He will next be seen in The Ogre, a new film by Volker Schlondorff who won an Oscar for The Tin Drum.

He has also had leading roles in numerous German television productions, including Fassbinder's Acht Stunden Sind Kein Tag. In addition, he has been seen in several British television dramas, including The Night of the Fox, Death Has a Bad Reputation, Wings of Fame, Game, Set and Match and Blue Blood.

Classically trained at Berlin's Dramatic Art School, John went on to become one of Germany's most celebrated stage performers. He has earned acclaim for his work in such plays as Macbeth, Richard III, Othello, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Tschechow's Wanja, Peter Weiss' Marat and Terson's Zicke Zacke.

ALAN CUMMING plays computer wizard Boris Grishenko, Natalya's co-worker and friend, who is the only other survivor when their work installation is obliterated by GoldenEye.

Cumming has had a multi-faceted career, encompassing stage work, feature film roles, stand-up comedy, and writing for television and movies. He most recently wrote and directed the award-winning short film Butter.

On the screen, he played the smarmy Sean Walsh in Pat O'Connor's Circle of Friends, and was heard as the voice of the horse in Black Beauty. He was also named Best Actor at the Atlantic Film Festival for his work in Prague, and was seen in Second Best, with William Hurt. He just completed work on a starring role in the upcoming film Emma, starring Gwyneth Paltrow.

Born in Perthshire, Scotland, Cumming studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, but took time off to make his feature film debut in Gillies McKinnon's first movie, Passing Glory. He later made his London stage debut in the West End production of The Conquest of the South Pole, which brought him an Olivier Award nomination for Most Promising Newcomer.

Cumming went on to win an Olivier Award for his work in Accidental Death of an Anarchist, and was nominated again for his performance in La Bete at the Lyric Hammersmith. More recently, he received strong critical acclaim for his performance as Hamlet, which brought him the TMA Best Actor Award and a Shakespeare Globe nomination.

He then made his West End musical debut, playing the role of the Emcee in Sam Mendes' smash hit revival of Cabaret, which earned him another Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.

His acting credits also include the television movies Bernard and Genie, for which he won the British Comedy Award for Top Television Newcomer, The Last Romantics and Mickey Love.

DESMOND LLEWELYN once again reprises his inimitable portrayal of the long-suffering Q, the man responsible for Bond's ultra-state-of-the-art gadgetry.

Llewelyn, a staple of the Bond films, was first introduced as Q, then known as Boothroyd, in From Russia With Love in 1963. He is the only actor to have been in all but two of the action blockbusters (Dr. No and Live and Let Die). Over the years, his scenes with Agent 007 have lent the series some of its favorite comic moments, while his character's ingenious creations have become the stuff of movie legend.

The Welsh-born actor made his movie debut back in 1939, playing a ghost in the Will Hay comedy Ask a Policeman. Though he has made numerous stage, screen and television appearances since then, he is, of course, most recognized for his work in the Bond films.

Unlike his screen persona, however, Llewelyn admits to being somewhat helpless with gadgets himself, which has come as a surprise to fans who have caught him struggling with the devices of modern technology.

SAMANTHA BOND is the aptly-named actress who takes over the role of M's able assistant Miss Moneypenny.

A member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Bond recently appeared in their presentations of A Winter's Tale and As You Like It. She was also seen in the National Theatre production of The Cid, Kenneth Branagh's Romeo and Juliet, and the West End productions of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Much Ado About Nothing (directed by Judi Dench) and Man of the Moment. Her earlier theatre work includes repertory seasons at Coventry, Edinburgh, Derby and Bristol, and a role in Never In My Life at the Soho Poly. She is currently starring with Maggie Smith in Three Tall Women in the West End.

On television, she has appeared in Blood and Fire, In Suspicious Circumstances, Return to Blood River, Inspector Morse, Thacker, Black Candle, Madly in Love, Rumpole of the Bailey and Tears Before Bedtime. She has also performed in radio dramas, including Romeo and Juliet, with Kenneth Branagh, Against the Wind, As You Like It and two Barbara Pym serials.

GoldenEye marks her second feature film after Eric the Viking, directed by Terry Jones.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

ALBERT R. "CUBBY" BROCCOLI presents the latest James Bond adventure GoldenEye, the seventeenth installment of the most popular film franchise of all time.

One of the film industry's most esteemed producers, Broccoli has enjoyed a long and illustrious career, spanning over five decades. In 1982, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences bestowed on him the coveted Irving G. Thalberg Award in recognition of his outstanding achievements as a motion picture producer, putting his name alongside such prior recipients as Alfred Hitchcock, William Wyler, Ingmar Bergman, Billy Wilder, Samuel Goldwyn, David O. Selznick, Cecil B. de Mille and Walt Disney.

Broccoli has been a major contributor to the British film industry, producing over 30 international movies in the United Kingdom. In 1987, he was honored with an OBE (Order of the British Empire) and named Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres by the French Government.

A native of Long Island, New York, Broccoli's career start was far less auspicious. His first job was serving as the humble assistant who called reveille for the Native American extras in The Outlaw. At least it was under director Howard Hawks, though Howard Hughes ultimately took over the director's baton.

His first film as a producer was Red Beret (released in the U.S. as Paratrooper), starring Alan Ladd. He later spent three months at the South Pole living in sub-zero temperatures aboard a Danish icebreaker to make Hell Below Zero, again starring Alan Ladd.

In 1962, a 45-minute conversation with the then-head of United Artists led to the realization of one of Broccoli's greatest ambitions. The studio agreed to back the film adaptation of Ian Fleming's Dr. No, bringing Fleming's super secret agent, James Bond, to the big screen. Broccoli made the film in association with his former partner Harry Saltzman, and the rest is cinematic history.

Fifteen James Bond adventures have followed on which Broccoli has served as producer: From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Diamonds Are Forever, Live and Let Die, The Man With the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View to a Kill, The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill. For over 30 years, these films have continued to thrill millions of fans the world over with an irresistible mix of explosive action, heart-stopping suspense and tongue-in-cheek humor.

Broccoli also produced the beloved musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which was based on Ian Fleming's classic children's story, and includes among his other producing credits The Trials of Oscar Wilde, Fire Down Below, Interpol, Zarak, Safari, The Cockleshell Heroes, A Prize of Gold and Black Night.

Outside of his film work, another of Broccoli's goals was fulfilled on July 18, 1988 in a ceremony that took place in New York. The occasion was the dedication of the new Dana and Albert Broccoli Building, housing the girls' wing of the Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens, not far from the place where Broccoli was raised.

After 27 years based in London, he and wife Dana, a writer, make their home in Los Angeles. Broccoli has said that he is as excited about each new Bond film as he was when Dr. No first went before the cameras those 33 years ago.

MARTIN CAMPBELL (Director) had established himself as a successful director in England before moving to the United States to helm his first major studio release, the suspense thriller Criminal Law, starring Kevin Bacon and Gary Oldman. He then directed Defenseless, with Barbara Hershey and Sam Shepard. Most recently, he directed the hit action drama No Escape, starring Ray Liotta.

For the small screen, he recently directed the HBO drama Cast a Deadly Spell, and two episodes of the acclaimed NBC series Homicide.

Campbell was born in New Zealand and moved to the United Kingdom in 1966 where he began his career as a video cameraman. He later line produced the controversial British feature Scum and then produced Black Joy, which was selected for competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

He made his directorial debut on the police action series The Professionals, followed by the BBC's popular drama series Shoestring, and ITV's Minder. In 1986, he directed the award-winning BBC mini-series Edge of Darkness, which received international acclaim.

His additional credits in the United Kingdom include the telefilms Frankie and Johnny and Muck & Brass, and the mini-series Charlie and Reilly - Ace of Spies, which he co-directed with Jim Goddard.

MICHAEL G. WILSON (Producer) has enjoyed a long association with the record-breaking James Bond film franchise.

He first earned his producing stripes as the executive producer on Moonraker and went on to serve in the same capacity on For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy. He produced (with Albert R. Broccoli) the three most recent Bond films A View to a Kill, The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill. Wilson's creative contribution to these films extends beyond his producing duties. He also co-wrote the screenplays for all of the aforementioned Agent 007 action adventures, except Moonraker.

A native New Yorker, Wilson studied law at Stanford University, later becoming a partner at a prestigious Washington, D.C./New York law firm, specializing in international taxation. In 1972, he joined Eon Productions in a legal/administrative capacity. He was named assistant to the producer on The Spy Who Loved Me.

In addition to his work on motion pictures, Wilson is also interested in still photography. He is recognized as a leading expert on early photography and loans his extensive collection of rare photos to museums, galleries and exhibitions around the world.

BARBARA BROCCOLI (Producer) is the head of development for the Cubby Broccoli company Danjaq, Inc. She has also worked in the production and casting departments at Eon Productions for a number of years.

Though GoldenEye marks her first film as a producer, Broccoli has previously worked in different capacities on earlier Bond adventures. She was an assistant director on Octopussy and A View to a Kill. She then became the associate producer (with Tom Pevsner) on the last two Bond adventures, The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill.

Prior to starting her career, Broccoli earned her degree from Loyola University in Los Angeles, California, where she majored in motion picture and television communications.

JEFFREY CAINE (Screenwriter) began his writing career as a novelist, beginning with the psychological thriller The Cold Room. The book was later adapted into a movie for HBO, starring George Segal and directed by James Deardon. Caine also wrote the novel Heathcliff and co-authored the book The Homing.

In the early 1980s, he started writing for television and contributed to a number of British series, including Dempsey and Makepeace for LWT, and Bergerac for the BBC. He also created the award-nominated series The Chief for Anglia TV, which has just concluded its fifth season.

Though GoldenEye marks his first produced feature screenplay, Caine has written several scripts that have been optioned and are in development with other studios.

Born in London, Caine was educated at the Universities of Sussex and Leeds. He taught English in schools and colleges for three years before becoming a professional writer.

BRUCE FEIRSTEIN (Screenwriter) has enjoyed a successful, multi-faceted career as a writer for the screen, books and magazines.

A best-selling humorist, he authored the books Real Men Don't Eat Quiche and Nice Guys Sleep Alone. His writing has appeared in many of the most widely-read newspapers and magazines, including Vanity Fair, where he is a contributing editor, The New York Times, where he served as a contributor to the editorial page, The New Yorker, Spy, The New Republic, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine and TV Guide. He also writes a column for The New York Observer.

For television, he wrote and produced the ACE-nominated one-act play The Best Legs in Eighth Grade, wrote and directed episodes of the syndicated anthology series Monsters, and was a guest writer for Saturday Night Live. His short film, Home, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Additionally, he won 11 Clio Awards for writing and directing many high profile consumer and political advertising campaigns.

After writing--and selling--12 unproduced screenplays, GOLDENEYE marks Feirstein's first feature film onscreen credit.

MICHAEL FRANCE (Story) previously wrote the smash hit action-thriller Cliffhanger, starring Sylvester Stallone and directed by Renny Harlin. Currently, he is working on the big-screen adaptation of the popular comic book The Fantastic Four for producer Chris Columbus.

Hailing from Florida, France attended the University of Florida and Columbia University before beginning his writing career.

France's background research for GoldenEye took him to Moscow and St. Petersburg where he observed the current state of military and intelligence circles in Russia. As an American, he also had the rare opportunity to go inside KGB headquarters in Moscow and tour military and nuclear facilities.

He also familiarized himself with the latest advances in espionage tools and tactics, as well as high-tech weaponry, including the electromagnetic pulse generator.

TOM PEVSNER (Executive Producer) previously served as associate producer on the Bond hits For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View To A Kill, The Living Daylights and Licence To Kill. GoldenEye marks his first film as executive producer.

The son of the distinguished architectural historian, Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, he served in the British Army from 1944 to 1948 before earning a degree in Modern Languages at Cambridge University. In 1951, Pevsner entered the film industry under Sir Michael Balcon at the famed Ealing Studios.

He began as a third assistant director and moved up to first A.D. on now-classic Ealing productions, such as The Ladykillers. He later served as associate producer on such films as A High Wind in Jamaica, Fred Zinnemann's Julia and John Badham's Dracula, starring Frank Langella and Sir Laurence Olivier. Over the years, he has worked with some of the most celebrated filmmakers in the world, including Billy Wilder, John Huston, John Ford, Jules Dassin, Alexander Mackendrick, Anatole Litvak and Stanley Donen, among others.

PHIL MEHEUX (Director of Photography) has lensed all of director Martin Campbell's feature films, including Criminal Law, Defenseless and No Escape.

Meheux began his career as a studio projectionist for the BBC in 1962. Two years later, he photographed and edited a short film, which resulted in his earning a place in the BBC Film Training course. His first chance as a cameraman came on Tony Palmer's documentary about modern music, All My Loving. He also worked on the Man Alive series, shooting 18 full-length documentaries.

He went on to shoot John Mackenzie's Just Another Saturday, which won the 1975 Italia Prize. He continued to work at the BBC on a variety of projects, including the filmed plays The Whip Hand, Elephant's Graveyard, Double Dare and Spend, Spend, Spend, which won the BAFTA award for Best Single Play of 1977.

After 12 years with the BBC, Meheux left to shoot his first 35mm film, Black Joy, and then Alan Clarke's controversial Scum, both of which were produced by Martin Campbell. His first major feature film was John Mackenzie's The Long Good Friday. His other credits include Highlander II, Renegades, Max Headroom - The Original Story, The Honorary Consul, Experience Preferred But Not Essential, Who Dares Wins, The Final Conflict: Damien Omen III and additional photography for The Killing Fields.

PETER LAMONT (Production Designer) is a three-time Academy Award nominee and another longtime veteran of the Bond movies, having now worked on 15 of the action hits. His first was Goldfinger, on which he started as a draftsman in the art department, and he then worked his way up to set decorator and art director on succeeding films. He earned an Oscar nomination for the art direction on The Spy Who Loved Me, and was subsequently named production designer on For Your Eyes Only. He has since served as production designer on Octopussy, A View to a Kill, The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill.

One of the film industry's most sought-after production designers, Lamont has lent his talents to a number of diverse films. He garnered both Academy Award and BAFTA nominations for his work on the sci-fi thriller Aliens, and most recently designed the Arnold Schwarzenegger starrer True Lies. He includes among his additional credits The Taking of Beverly Hills, Eve of Destruction and Consuming Passions.

In addition, he was the art director on such films as Sphinx, The Boys From Brazil, The Seven Percent Solution, The Dove and Sleuth. He also served as the set decorator on the film version of Fiddler on the Roof, for which he shared in another Academy Award nomination.

TERRY RAWLINGS (Editor) earned both American and British Academy Award nominations for his work on the Oscar-winning Best Picture Chariots of Fire. He had earlier garnered a British Academy Award nod for Ridley Scott's sci-fi thriller Alien. Rawlings went on to work again with Scott on the futuristic action hit Blade Runner and Legend.

Most recently, Rawlings worked with director Martin Campbell on the action-drama No Escape. His additional film credits include The Sentinel, Watership Down, Barbra Streisand's Yentl, F/X, The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, White of the Eye, Slipstream, Not Without My Daughter and Alien3.

Rawlings began his editing career as a trainee at Elstree Studios. He made his debut as a sound editor on the 1960 film The Pot Carriers and then dubbed The Dock Brief and The L-Shaped Room. He went on to earn British Academy Award nominations for his sound editing of Women in Love and Isadora. His last film as a sound editor was Ridley Scott's first feature, The Duelists.

LINDY HEMMING (Costume Designer) has created the costumes for a variety of projects, from period dramas to contemporary comedies. She most recently earned praise for her designs for the international comedy smash Four Weddings and a Funeral. Her oss Road, starring Anne Bancroft, Anthony Hopkins and Judi Dench, and Stephen Frears' highly praised My Beautiful Launderette, starring Daniel Day-Lewis.

Currently, she is in the United States to work on Blood and Wine, starring Jack Nicholson, for director Bob Rafelson.

Born in Wales, Hemming attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Upon graduating, she began working in London's fringe theatre and at the Open Space Theatre and Hampstead Theatre Club. Her growing reputation led to West End productions and commissions from the Royal Shakepeare Company and the Royal National Theatre.

Wanting to design for film and television, Hemming accepted an invitation to work for London Weekend Network television. She subsequently worked on such projects as Loose Connections and the telefilm Laughter House, both for director Richard Eyre; and High Hopes, Life Is Sweet and the telefilm Meantime, all directed by Mike Leigh.

ERIC SERRA (Composer), born in France, has written the scores for all of noted French director Luc Besson's films, making his film composing debut on Besson's first film, The Last Battle.

Serra then composed the music for Besson's Subway, for which he earned the French award Victoire de la Meilleure Musique de Film and a nomination for a Cesar, the French equivalent of an Oscar. He went on to write the scores for Pierre Grimblat's La Nuit Du Flingueur, and Kamikaze, which was co-directed by Didier Grousset and Luc Besson.

He won a second Victoire de la Meilleure Musique de Film as well as the Cesar and Grand Prix Awards for his music for Besson's The Big Blue. The film also spawned a hugely successful soundtrack, which topped the charts in France for three months.

Serra has since composed the music for Besson's acclaimed films Atlantis and La Femme Nikita, which also spawned bestselling soundtrack albums in France. Most recently, he won his third Victoire de la Meilleure Musique de Film Award for his score for the director's latest film, The Professional.

In addition to his work as a composer, Serra is an accomplished musician who has performed in concert and recorded with a number of top international musical artists.

TINA TURNER becomes the latest of a long line of celebrated musical artists who have performed the title song of a James Bond film.

For over three decades Turner has been one of the music industry's most enduring and admired performers. She has electrified fans at sell out stadium concerts around the world with her tireless energy and singularly evocative style, and has repeatedly topped the record charts with such hits as What's Love Got to Do With It?, Private Dancer and Let's Stay Together. In addition, she sang the theme song to the action hit Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, in which she also starred with Mel Gibson.

Turner first burst onto the rock scene in the '60s as the undisputed star of the Ike & Tina Turner Review, putting her indelible stamp on that seminal musical era with her distinctive voice and dynamic stage persona. Her earliest smashes include the songs River Deep, Mountain High, Proud Mary, I Want to Take You Higher, Come Together and her self-penned Nutbush City Limits.

In 1993, Turner's inspiring life story was chronicled in the hit film What's Love Got To Do With It?. Based on her autobiography, I, Tina, it became one of the most acclaimed movies of the year, garnering multiple Academy Award nominations and captivating a new generation of fans.

IAN SHARP (2nd Unit Director) has helmed both first and second units for a variety of film and television projects.

He previously handled the 2nd unit for the hit animated/live action feature Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. His directing credits include the films The Music Machine and Who Dares Wins. He also directed the international television projects Pleasure, Secret Weapon, Pride and Extreme Prejudice, Twist of Fate, Codename Kyril, Yesterday's Dreams, The Corsican Brothers, and several episodes of the British series Robin of Sherwood.

Born in England, Sharp was an accomplished musician in his youth, studying violin under Reginald Stead, the head of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. After graduating from the University of Durham, he eventually enrolled in the BBC Director's Course. For eight years, he concentrated on making documentaries, before being hired to direct for the popular British series Minder and The Professionals.

CHRIS CORBOULD (Special Effects Supervisor) counts GoldenEye as the first Bond film for which he has supervised the special effects, though he has worked on the special effects for several in the franchise. He was the second unit supervisor on Licence to Kill, floor supervisor on The Living Daylights, senior technician on A View to a Kill and For Your Eyes Only, and a technician on Moonraker and The Spy Who Loved Me.

His additional film credits include Shadowlands, Far and Away, Hudson Hawk, Highlander II and Nightbreed.

Corbould was introduced to the magic of special effects early in life. His uncle is Colin Chilvers, who won an Academy Award for his work on the first Superman movie.

SIMON CRANE (Stunt Coordinator) has planned and executed some of the screen's most daring stunts during the course of his challenging career. Some of his most spectacular stunt work has been seen in the earlier Bond movies A View to a Kill, The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill, doubling Timothy Dalton in the latter two.

Crane was the aerial stunt coordinator and a stunt performer for Cliffhanger, in which he set a record for the first jet-to-jet mid-air transfer. More recently, he was co-stunt coordinator for Mel Gibson's Braveheart. He includes among his additional coordinating and second unit directing credits Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and three seasons of television's The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.

He has also performed stunts in over 40 features, including: Total Recall, Batman, Alien3, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (doubling Kevin Costner), Rambo 3, Air America (doubling Mel Gibson), Aliens, Willow, Empire of the Sun, Superman 4, A Fish Called Wanda, Little Shop of Horrors and The Fourth Protocol, for which he doubled Pierce Brosnan.