10 Photos of Ursula Andress: Bond Girl Icon 'Devastated' After Losing £16 million Fortune

Bond girl legend Ursula Andress marked her 90th birthday on Thursday, 19 March, but the milestone has been overshadowed by a deeply personal revelation. The iconic actress has said she is 'devastated' after losing her £16 million ($21 million) fortune, casting a shadow over what should have been a celebratory moment.

As one of cinema's most recognisable faces, Andress' life and career have long captured public fascination. Here are ten photos of Ursula Andress as we revisit her legacy while unpacking the latest developments surrounding her life.

Who is Ursula Andress?

Ursula Andress is well-known for her iconic role in the 1962 James Bond film Dr No and is considered the first Bond Girl after she walked out of the ocean wearing nothing but a white bikini and a dagger on her hips.

At only 26 years old, Andress won the Golden Globe for New Star of the Year for the role where she starred alongside the late Eunice Gayson.

She also starred as Vesper Lynd in the 1967 Bond parody Casino Royale and posed nude in 1965 for Playboy. After that, the Swiss actress became a staple in the magazine, having been featured seven times over the next 15 years.

Despite her success in film, television, and modelling, Andress had been expected to enjoy a comfortable retirement in her home in Rome. However, she revealed that she lost a substantial part of her fortune due to actions linked to her late asset manager, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Ursula Andress Lost her £16 million Fortune

In an interview with Swiss German publication Blick, the 90-year-old former actress confessed that she is 'devastated' after losing a huge part of her fortune.

She said, 'For eight years, I was courted and wooed. They lied to me ruthlessly and exploited my goodwill and trust in a perfidious, even criminal, way to take everything from me. And they were counting on my age. I'm so devastated.'

Andress also shared that she struggles to sleep and suffers from anxiety, 'This feeling of helplessness is unbearable – it's killing me.'

The former actress said that her late asset manager, Eric Freymond, has allegedly lost the £16million worth of fortune of the actress, with her total net worth estimated at £18million ($24 million).

The star also emphasized that this outcome was the last thing she anticipated, especially after taking pride in saving diligently for what she hoped would be a 'happy and peaceful retirement.'

She added: 'I've been disgustingly cheated! I hope the perpetrators are punished to the full extent of the law.'

How Eric Freymond Lost Ursula's Fortune

Reports indicated that Andress' former asset manager, Freymond, allegedly lost the actress' money in gambling and/or questionable transactions that are unknown to the Bond girl.

He is also said to have made a series of art purchases on her behalf without her consent. She said that none of these were shown or given to her. Some of her fortune is also believed to have been invested in stocks.

Criminal Complaint Including Charges of Embezzlement

In January, it was reported that Andress filed a criminal complaint, which included charges of embezzlement.

A statement from her management read: 'As part of a fraud scheme of exceptional scale and complexity, involving numerous actors and structures, she was deprived of a large portion of her assets, resulting in significant damage.'

They added, 'Out of consideration for the ongoing proceedings, Ms Andress does not wish to make any further comments at this time. The Vaud cantonal judicial authorities have been tasked with fully investigating the manipulations and clarifying criminal and civil liability.'

Before the complaint, Freymond was suspected of embezzling the Hermes heir Nicolas Puech's fortune. Last July, he confessed to some of the charges during an interrogation in Paris.

However, two weeks after his confession, the asset manager took his own life. The artworks he allegedly purchased with Andress' money were reportedly held in his wife's name, allegedly to provide him with liquidity.