With the curtains drawn on an extraordinary life, British-born actress Joanna Pettet has left us at the ripe age of 83. This talented beauty, with a career that spanned decades in both UK and US film and television, has been silenced after a life filled with box-office triumphs and brushes with Hollywood's darker side.
Pettet will forever be remembered for her riotous turn as Mata Bond in the 1967 comedy classic Casino Royale, a tongue-in-cheek take on the iconic James Bond franchise. This eccentric gem may have had its detractors, but it proved to be a cash cow at the box office – and Pettet's recruitment into espionage after a sassy dance number remains one of the film's most iconic moments.
But beyond the campy charm of Casino Royale, Pettet demonstrated a more nuanced side in 1967's World War Two murder mystery The Night of the Generals. Her portrayal as the daughter of a suspected Nazi officer was a masterclass in subtlety, showcasing her range and versatility. She then transitioned seamlessly to the British crime drama Robbery, where she played the wife of a crime boss trying to prevent a railway heist inspired by the 1963 Great Train Robbery.
Pettet's life was forever intertwined with Hollywood's most dramatic narratives, including her tragic connection to the Manson family. She was one of the last people to see Sharon Tate alive in 1969 – just a day before Tate's senseless murder. This harrowing real-life moment was later immortalised on screen in Quentin Tarantino's 2019 epic Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, where Pettet was portrayed by Rumer Willis.
Born in Chelsea, London, in 1942, Pettet's early life was marked by her father's wartime disappearance and her subsequent emigration to Montreal with her mother. She navigated the highs and lows of a career that spanned continents – from planning to stay in Britain during a romance with Playboy mogul Victor Lownes, to returning to the US for roles like 1968's Blue. As she eventually scaled back her on-screen presence, Pettet primarily took on guest roles in American TV before retiring from the screen well before reaching 50. With her passing, we bid farewell to a true Hollywood legend who left an indelible mark on cinema.