French actress Claudine Auger, known for James Bond role, dead at 78

Sara M Moniuszko, USA TODAY

French actress Claudine Auger, known for her role in a James Bond film, has died at 78, the official James Bond Twitter account shared.

The BBC and Agence France-Presse also reported the news, citing an announcement from her agency, Art Time.

Auger was best known for role in the 1965 film "Thunderball," where she played one of the first Bond girls, Dominique "Domino" Derval, alongside Sean Connery's 007.

The outlets report that Domino was originally written as an Italian character, but was changed to French for Auger.

French actress Claudine Auger and Scottish actor Sean Connery answer journalists' questions at a hotel in Paris on Feb. 19, 1965.
French actress Claudine Auger and Scottish actor Sean Connery answer journalists' questions at a hotel in Paris on Feb. 19, 1965.

She is also known for the 1980 film "Fantastica" and the French television series "Le théatre de la jeunesse," which ran from 1960 to 1968. She starred in the project in 1961.

Before her acting career, Auger was a model and pageant girl, the outlets report. She represented France as the first runner-up in Miss World in 1958.

USA TODAY has reached out to Art Time for comment.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Claudine Auger, Bond Girl in 'Thunderball,' dead at 78

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