From Bond to conned: Dr No star Ursula Andrews defrauded out of £17million by financial adviser who spent it on vineyards, property and art
With her unforgettable white bikini and dagger on her hip, her appearance on the glittering Jamaican beach in Dr No set the standard for every Bond girl.
But unfortunately, 007 wasn’t around to protect actress Ursula Andress from the bad guys accused of embezzling her fortune.
Ms. Andress, who played Honey Ryder alongside Sean Connery’s James Bond in the 1962 spy thriller, filed criminal charges in her native Switzerland against former asset manager Eric Freymond in January.
Now Italian authorities have seized assets worth £17 million, allegedly bought with embezzled money from the star.
Investigators traced his money to Florence, which led to the seizure of his assets, including estates, vineyards and olive groves in Tuscany.
Ms Andress, who turned 90 earlier this month, told Swiss-German publication Blick: ‘I’m still in shock. I was deliberately targeted. For eight years I was courted and wooed.
‘They lied to me mercilessly and took everything from me by treacherously, even criminally, exploiting my good will and trust. And they were counting on my age! I’m so miserable.’
He claims that Freymond lost his fortune by investing in worthless stocks and buying works of art worth several million Swiss francs.
Ursula Andress’s appearance on the glittering Jamaican beach in Dr No (photo taken in 1962), in her unforgettable white bikini and dagger at her hip, set the standard for every Bond girl.
Ms. Andress (photo taken in 2008) filed criminal charges against former asset manager Eric Freymond in her native Switzerland in January.
Ms. Andress played Honey Ryder in the 1962 spy thriller opposite Sean Connery’s James Bond (pictured together).
It was revealed that some of the works of art allegedly purchased with Freymond’s money were registered in the name of Freymond’s wife, Caroline. There is no suggestion that he was involved in any wrongdoing.
The actress, who had a successful career and played the role of Vesper Lynd in the 1967 Bond parody Casino Royale, told Blick that the stress of the investigation was making her hard to sleep at night.
‘This feeling of helplessness is unbearable; “It’s killing me,” he added.
‘Like all Swiss people, I worked hard and always saved my money.
‘I was hoping to spend my last years happily and peacefully. And now this is happening.
‘I was deceived in a disgusting way.’
Nicolas Puech, heir to the $16 billion luxury fashion brand Hermès fortune, accused Freymond of costing himself billions of dollars by selling his 6 percent stake in the family business.
But Freymond, 67, will not face justice. He died last July after being hit by a train near Saanen, a mountainous village in Switzerland. Local police ruled his death a suicide.
But 67-year-old Freymond (pictured with wife Caroline Freymond) will not face justice. He died last July after being hit by a train near Saanen, a mountainous village in Switzerland.
A statement from Ms Andress’s management team said: ‘As part of a fraud scheme of extraordinary scale and complexity involving multiple actors and structures, she was deprived of a large portion of her assets, resulting in significant damage.
‘Given the ongoing litigation, Ms Andress does not wish to comment further at this time.
‘vaud’ [Swiss district] The cantonal judicial authorities were tasked with fully investigating the manipulations and clarifying criminal and civil liability.’
In addition to Connery, Ms. Andress appeared with Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Marcello Mastroianni, Jean-Paul Belmondo and Peter Sellers in a career that spanned six decades.
His appearance in Dr No earned him a Golden Globe newcomer award. She had romantic relationships with James Dean, Dennis Hopper, director John Derek, and Mad Men actor Harry Hamlin, with whom she had a son named Dimitri.
