Monica "Nikki" van der Zyl (27 April 1935 – 6 March 2021) was a German actress based in the United Kingdom, known for her

dubbing Dubbing (also known as re-recording and mixing) is a post-production process used in filmmaking and the video production process where supplementary recordings (known as doubles) are lip-synced and "mixed" with original production audio to cr ...

work on the ''James Bond'' film franchise.

Early life

Nikki van der Zyl was born on 27 April 1935 in Berlin, the daughter of Anneliese and Rabbi Dr. Werner van der Zyl.

Career

As a voice-over artist, she provided the voice of the character of

Honey Ryder Honeychile Rider is a fictional character in Ian Fleming's James Bond novel '' Dr. No''. In the 1962 Bond film of the same title, her name was shortened and spelled Honey Ryder. In the film, she is played by Swiss actress Ursula Andress, with ...

(

Ursula Andress Ursula Andress (born 19 March 1936) is a Swiss actress and former model who has appeared in American, British, and Italian films. Her breakthrough role was as Bond girl Honey Ryder in the first James Bond film, '' Dr. No'' (1962). She later star ...

) as well as several other minor female characters, in '' Dr. No''. Van der Zyl also provided dialogue coaching to

Gert Fröbe Karl Gerhart "Gert" Fröbe (; 25 February 1913 – 5 September 1988) was a German actor. He was known in English-speaking countries for his work as the title character in the James Bond film '' Goldfinger'', as Peachum in ''The Threepenny Opera ...

, whose English was limited, for the movie '' Goldfinger'' and continued to work as a voice-over artist for the series until '' Moonraker.'' She worked as an artist, poet and public speaker. In January 2013, van der Zyl published her book, ''For Your Ears Only'', which was translated into German for a 2015 release in Germany. In November 2013, an exhibition called "Night Flight to Berlin" opened in the Museum Pankow in

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

and ran until April 2014. The exhibition highlighted stages in van der Zyl's life from her childhood days to the Bond films and her work as a

barrister A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdiction (area), jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include arguing cases in courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, jurisprud ...

and political correspondent in London. On 20 September 2014, she was a special guest star at a 50th anniversary screening of '' Goldfinger'' in

Braunschweig Braunschweig () or Brunswick ( ; from Low German , local dialect: ) is a List of cities and towns in Germany, city in Lower Saxony, Germany, north of the Harz Mountains at the farthest navigable point of the river Oker, which connects it to the ...

, Germany where she was awarded honorary membership of th
James Bond Club Deutschland e.V.
for her contribution to the ''James Bond'' film series.

Death

Van der Zyl died following a stroke in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, on 6 March 2021, at the age of 85.

Filmography

James Bond films

*'' Dr. No'' (1962; dubbed

and all other female voices except

Lois Maxwell Lois Ruth Maxwell (née Hooker; February 14, 1927 – September 29, 2007) was a Canadian actress. She was best known for portraying Miss Moneypenny in the first 14 Eon Productions, Eon-produced James Bond in film, ''James Bond'' films (1962–1 ...

, Zena Marshall, Yvonne Shima and Michel Mok) *'' From Russia with Love'' (1963; dubbed female hotel clerk in Istanbul) *'' Goldfinger'' (1964; dubbed

Shirley Eaton Shirley Jean Eaton (born 12 January 1937) is an English former actress and singer. Eaton appeared regularly in British films throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and gained her highest profile for her appearance as Bond Girl Jill Masterson in the ...

and Nadja Regin, was also on-set English-language vocal coach to

) *'' Thunderball'' (1965; dubbed

Claudine Auger Claudine Auger (born Claudine Oger; 26 April 1941 – 18 December 2019) was a French actress best known for her role as a Bond girl, Dominique "Domino" Derval, in the James Bond film '' Thunderball'' (1965). She earned the title of Miss France ...

) *'' You Only Live Twice'' (1967; dubbed

Mie Hama is a Japanese former actress, television presenter, radio presenter, and author best known for playing Fumiko Sakurai in the 1962 Godzilla (franchise), ''Godzilla'' film, ''King Kong vs. Godzilla'', Kissy Suzuki in the 1967 James Bond, ''James B ...

) *'' On Her Majesty's Secret Service'' (1969; dubbed

Virginia North Virginia Anne Northup, Lady White (24 April 1946 – 5 June 2004), known professionally as Virginia North, was a British model and actress. She was best known for her role as Vulnavia, the titular character’s assistant, in the cult horror film ...

) *'' Diamonds Are Forever'' (1971; dubbed Denise Perrier) *'' Live and Let Die'' (1973; partially dubbed

Jane Seymour Jane Seymour (; 24 October 1537) was Queen of England as the third wife of King Henry VIII from their marriage on 30 May 1536 until her death the next year. She became queen following the execution of Henry's second wife, Anne Boleyn, who was ...

) *'' The Man with the Golden Gun'' (1974; dubbed Francoise Therry) *'' Moonraker'' (1979; dubbed

Corinne Cléry Corinne Marie-Madeleine Geneviève Pierrette Picolo (born 23 March 1950), better known as Corinne Cléry, is a French actress. Her breakthrough role was as the title character in ''Story of O'' (1975), based on the novel of the same name. She su ...

and Leila Shenna)

Other films

*''

Man in the Moon In many cultures, several pareidolic images of a human face, head or body are recognized in the disc of the full moon; they are generally known as the Man in the Moon. The images are based on the appearance of the dark areas (known as lunar m ...

'' (1960, revoiced

Shirley Anne Field Shirley Anne Field (born Shirley Broomfield; 27 June 1936 – 10 December 2023) was an English actress who performed on stage, film and television from 1955 until her death. She was prominent during the British New Wave. Early life Shirley Bro ...

) *''

The Savage Innocents ''The Savage Innocents'' is a 1960 adventure film directed and co-written by Nicholas Ray. Anthony Quinn and Yoko Tani star, with Lee Montague, Marco Guglielmi, Carlo Giustini, Anthony Chinn, and Michael Chow in supporting roles, alongsid ...

'' (1960, revoiced

Yoko Tani was a Japanese-French actress and vedette, who had a career in both Japanese and European cinema during the 1950s and '60s. Early life Tani was born Yōko Itani (猪谷洋子) in Paris in 1928, to Japanese parents Zenichi Itani and Taeko Egi. ...

) *''

Call Me Bwana ''Call Me Bwana'' is a 1963 British Technicolor farce film starring Bob Hope and Anita Ekberg and directed by Gordon Douglas. Largely set in Africa, it was the only film made by Eon Productions not about the fictional MI6 agent James Bond un ...

'' (1963, revoiced

Anita Ekberg Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg (29 September 193111 January 2015) was a Swedish actress active in American and European films, known for her beauty and curvaceous figure. She became prominent in her iconic role as Sylvia in the Federico Fellini f ...

) *'' You Must Be Joking!'' (1965, revoiced

Gabriella Licudi Gabriella Licudi (born Gabrielle Carmen Stuttard, 14 September 1941 – 18 September 2022) was a British actress. Biography Born in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, Licudi was the daughter of Northern Ireland-born naval engineer Wilfred James Stutta ...

) *''

She She or S.H.E. may refer to: Language * She (pronoun), the third person singular, feminine, nominative case pronoun in modern English Places * She County, Anhui ** She Prefecture, 589-1121 * She County, Hebei * She River, or Sheshui, Hubei * ...

'' (1965, revoiced

) *''

The Blue Max ''The Blue Max'' is a 1966 war film , WW I film directed by John Guillermin and starring George Peppard, James Mason, Ursula Andress, Karl Michael Vogler, and Jeremy Kemp. The film was made in DeLuxe Color and was one of the last movies filme ...

'' (1966; revoiced Ursula Andress) *''

Funeral in Berlin ''Funeral in Berlin'' is a 1964 spy novel by Len Deighton set between Saturday 5 October and Sunday 10 November 1963. It was the third of Deighton's novels about an unnamed British agent. It was preceded by '' The IPCRESS File'' (1962) and '' ...

'' (1966, revoiced

Eva Renzi Eva Renzi (born Evelyn Renziehausen; 3 November 1944 – 16 August 2005) was a German actress. Biography Born in Berlin to a Danish father and a French mother, she enrolled in the Berlin Actors' Studio at age 16 and began appearing in plays in G ...

) *''

One Million Years B.C. ''One Million Years B.C.'' is a 1966 British Adventure film, adventure fantasy film directed by Don Chaffey. The film was produced by Hammer Film Productions and Seven Arts Productions, Seven Arts, and is a remake of the 1940 American fantasy f ...

'' (1966, revoiced

Raquel Welch Jo Raquel Welch (; September 5, 1940 – February 15, 2023) was an American actress. Welch first gained attention for her role in ''Fantastic Voyage'' (1966), after which she signed a long-term contract with 20th Century Fox. They lent her con ...

) *'' Prehistoric Women'' (1967, revoiced various characters) *'' Frankenstein Created Woman'' (1967, revoiced Susan Denberg) *''

Deadlier Than the Male ''Deadlier Than the Male'' is a 1967 British crime and mystery film directed by Ralph Thomas and starring Richard Johnson and Elke Sommer. It is one of the many take-offs of James Bond produced during the 1960s, but is based on an already est ...

'' (1967, revoiced

Sylva Koscina Sylva Koscina (; born Silvija Košćina, ; 22 August 1933 – 26 December 1994) was a Yugoslav-born Italian actress, best known for her role as Iole, the bride of Hercules ( Steve Reeves) in ''Hercules'' (1958) and '' Hercules Unchained'' (196 ...

) *''

The Jokers ''The Jokers'' is a 1967 British comedy film directed by Michael Winner and starring Michael Crawford and Oliver Reed. It was written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. Two brothers hatch a plot to steal the Crown Jewels. Plot Michael Trema ...

'' (1967, revoiced Gabriella Licudi) *'' Hannibal Brooks'' (1969; revoiced

Karin Baal Karin Blauermel (19 September 1940 – 26 November 2024), known professionally as Karin Baal, was a German film actress. She appeared in more than 90 films since 1956. Baal died on 26 November 2024, at the age of 84. Filmography Films *1956: ' ...

) *''

Krakatoa, East of Java ''Krakatoa, East of Java'' is a 1968 American disaster film starring Maximilian Schell and Brian Keith. During the 1970s, the film was re-released under the title ''Volcano''. The story is loosely based on events surrounding the 1883 eruption ...

'' (1969, revoiced

Jacqui Chan Jacqueline "Jacqui" Chan (born 1939) is a Chinese-Trinidadian dancer, actress and singer. Early life Chan was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago to a Chinese mother and a Chinese-Russian father. Her parents had both migrated to Briti ...

) *''

Fräulein Doktor ( , ) is the German language honorific for unmarried women, comparable to Miss in English and in French. Description ''Fräulein'' is the diminutive form of ''Frau'', which was previously reserved only for married women. ''Frau'' is in o ...

'' (1969, revoiced Suzy Kendall) *''

Scars of Dracula ''Scars of Dracula'' is a 1970 British horror film directed by Roy Ward Baker for Hammer Films. It stars Christopher Lee as Count Dracula, along with Dennis Waterman, Jenny Hanley, Patrick Troughton, and Michael Gwynn. Although disparaged b ...

'' (1970; revoiced

Jenny Hanley Jenny Hanley (born 15 August 1947) is an English actress and presenter. She was one of the presenters of the ITV children's magazine programme ''Magpie''. She currently presents a show on Boom Radio. Early life and education Hanley is the dau ...

) *''

You Can't Win 'Em All ''You Can't Win 'Em All'' is a 1970 British-American war film, written by Leo Gordon (also an actor who appears in the film) and directed by Peter Collinson. It stars Tony Curtis, Charles Bronson and Michèle Mercier. The film is set at the ...

'' (1970, revoiced

Michèle Mercier Michèle Mercier (born 1 January 1939 as Jocelyne Yvonne Renée Mercier) is a French actress.

) *'' Mister Jerico'' (1970; revoiced

Connie Stevens Connie Stevens (born Concetta Rosalie Ann Ingoglia; August 8, 1938) is an American actress and singer. Born in Brooklyn to musician parents, Stevens was raised there until the age of 12, when she was sent to live with family friends in rural Mi ...

) *''

Gawain and the Green Knight ''Sir Gawain and the Green Knight'' is a late 14th-century chivalric romance in Middle English alliterative verse. The author is unknown; the title was given centuries later. It is one of the best-known Arthurian stories, with its plot combi ...

'' (1973, revoiced

Ciaran Madden Ciaran Anne Magdalene Madden (born 27 December 1942) is a retired English stage, film, and television actress, who was professionally active from the late 1960s through the late 1990s. She is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RA ...

) *''

The Cherry Picker ''The Cherry Picker'' (also known as ''The Quiet Life''), is a 1972 British drama film directed by Peter Curran (director), Peter Curran and starring Lulu (singer), Lulu, Bob Sherman (actor), Bob Sherman, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Spike Milligan, Pat ...

'' (1974; revoiced

Lulu Lulu may refer to: Companies * LuLu, an early automobile manufacturer * Lulu.com, an online e-books and print self-publishing platform, distributor, and retailer * Lulu Hypermarket, a retail chain in Asia * Lululemon Athletica or simply Lulu, a C ...

)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Van der Zyl, Nikki 1935 births 2021 deaths 20th-century German Jews Actresses from Berlin German people of Dutch descent German voice actresses German autobiographers German expatriate actors in the United Kingdom Nikki