When The Spy Who Loved Me premiered in 1977, audiences were used to a certain type of Bond girl: glamorous, flirtatious, and often rescued. But Barbara Bach changed that—without raising her voice or dropping her poise. As Major Anya Amasova, the Russian agent codenamed “Triple X,” she wasn’t just Bond’s love interest. She was his equal—and occasionally, his superior.
Before she ever walked onto a 007 set, Barbara Bach had already made waves as a successful model and actress in Europe. Born Barbara Goldbach in Queens, New York, she had a classic beauty that made her a magazine favorite, but it was her intelligence and unflappable demeanor that made her stand out. She spoke multiple languages and carried herself with a quiet self-assurance—qualities that would define her most iconic role.
In The Spy Who Loved Me, Bach’s Anya is icy, elegant, and deadly. She matches Bond (played by Roger Moore) beat for beat—whether they’re battling henchmen or bartering secrets. In an era when Cold War tensions still shaped pop culture, it was no small thing to see a Russian agent portrayed with dignity and depth, not just as a villain or sidekick. Anya had her own mission, her own code, and even a personal score to settle with Bond. She wasn’t disposable. She had power.
The chemistry between Moore and Bach was undeniable, but it was her calm control—her refusal to be reduced to a damsel—that made her unforgettable. When Anya famously says, “The mission is over, Commander,” with a pistol aimed squarely at Bond, audiences knew this wasn’t a woman who would fade into the background.
Barbara Bach only starred in one Bond film, but her impact was lasting. She helped usher in a new kind of Bond woman—one who could spar with the world’s most famous spy and survive with her cool intact. Her portrayal laid the groundwork for more complex female roles in the franchise, including later characters like Michelle Yeoh’s Wai Lin and Eva Green’s Vesper Lynd.
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After The Spy Who Loved Me, Bach appeared in a number of international films, but by the early 1980s, she was ready for a new chapter. She married Beatles drummer Ringo Starr in 1981, and the two have remained famously devoted ever since. Outside of acting, she’s been involved in humanitarian work and advocacy, particularly around substance abuse recovery—a cause close to both her and Starr’s hearts.
While she may not have had the longest film career, Barbara Bach’s screen presence in The Spy Who Loved Me proved that strength doesn’t always shout. Sometimes, it walks in wearing a uniform, speaks fluent Russian, and steals the entire movie with one look.
She wasn’t just a Bond girl. She was the Bond girl for a generation who wanted their spies sharp, stylish—and completely unforgettable.