Mie Hama
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
actress, best-known outside Japan for her role as Kissy Suzuki
in the 1967 James Bond
film You Only Live Twice
.
. She went on to become one of the most in-demand actresses in Japan. Notable appearances included Toho
Studio's monster movies such as King Kong Escapes
. By the time she starred in You Only Live Twice
, she had made more than 60 movies.
Hama was originally cast to play the character Aki (who was originally named Suki), and her co-star Akiko Wakabayashi
was cast to play Kissy Suzuki. The two actresses were sent to London for three months, to be tutored in English.
Mie Hama and Wakabayashi switched roles, with Hama playing the smaller part of Kissy (although the character was in fact considered the main Bond girl
); both voices were overdubbed in the final film. Due to illness during filming, the actress was doubled in diving scenes by Diane Cilento
, Sean Connery
's wife at the time. Mie Hama said of Sean Connery
and his role as James Bond
: "I like Connery. I don't like James Bond. Bond is always a playboy with many playgirls. Connery is a warm heart."
.She posed nude in the June 1967, US edition of playboy in the section "007's Oriental Eyefulls: Mie Hama , Akiko Wakabayashi , et al".
Her measurements are 35-23-35 and her height is 5′ 4½″ (1.64 m).
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
actress, best-known outside Japan for her role as Kissy Suzuki
Kissy Suzuki
Kissy Suzuki is a fictional character in Ian Fleming's 1964 James Bond novel, You Only Live Twice. Despite Bond's womanizing, Kissy Suzuki remains the only character known to the reader who bears a child by him...
in the 1967 James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
film You Only Live Twice
You Only Live Twice (film)
You Only Live Twice is the fifth spy film in the James Bond series, and the fifth to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film's screenplay was written by Roald Dahl, and loosely based on Ian Fleming's 1964 novel of the same name...
.
Career
Hama was working as a bus fare collector when she was spotted by producer Tomoyuki TanakaTomoyuki Tanaka
----Tomoyuki Tanaka was a Japanese film producer, most famous for creating the Godzilla series. He was born in Kashiwara, Osaka, Japan on April 26, 1910, and died in Tokyo on April 2, 1997. He died of a stroke at the age of 86....
. She went on to become one of the most in-demand actresses in Japan. Notable appearances included Toho
Toho
is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
Studio's monster movies such as King Kong Escapes
King Kong Escapes
King Kong Escapes, released in Japan as , is a 1967 Kaiju film. A Japanese/American co-production from Toho and Rankin/Bass . Directed by Ishiro Honda and featuring special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, the film starred both American actors alongside Japanese actors...
. By the time she starred in You Only Live Twice
You Only Live Twice (film)
You Only Live Twice is the fifth spy film in the James Bond series, and the fifth to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film's screenplay was written by Roald Dahl, and loosely based on Ian Fleming's 1964 novel of the same name...
, she had made more than 60 movies.
Hama was originally cast to play the character Aki (who was originally named Suki), and her co-star Akiko Wakabayashi
Akiko Wakabayashi
is a Japanese actress, best known in English-speaking countries for her role as Bond girl, Aki in the 1967 James Bond movie You Only Live Twice. Before this, she had made many movies in her native Japan, especially Toho Studio's monster movies such as Dagora, the Space Monster and Ghidorah, the...
was cast to play Kissy Suzuki. The two actresses were sent to London for three months, to be tutored in English.
Mie Hama and Wakabayashi switched roles, with Hama playing the smaller part of Kissy (although the character was in fact considered the main Bond girl
Bond girl
A Bond girl is a character or actress portraying a love interest, of James Bond in a film, novel, or video game. They occasionally have names that are double entendres or puns, such as "Pussy Galore", "Plenty O'Toole", "Xenia Onatopp", or "Holly Goodhead"...
); both voices were overdubbed in the final film. Due to illness during filming, the actress was doubled in diving scenes by Diane Cilento
Diane Cilento
Diane Cilento was an Australian theatre and film actress and author.-Biography:Cilento's parents, Sir Raphael Cilento and Lady Phyllis Cilento, were both distinguished medical practitioners....
, Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
's wife at the time. Mie Hama said of Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
and his role as James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
: "I like Connery. I don't like James Bond. Bond is always a playboy with many playgirls. Connery is a warm heart."
.She posed nude in the June 1967, US edition of playboy in the section "007's Oriental Eyefulls: Mie Hama , Akiko Wakabayashi , et al".
Her measurements are 35-23-35 and her height is 5′ 4½″ (1.64 m).