UPON first being told the name of his voluptuous adversary in 1964's classic, Sean Connery's James Bond responded with: "I must be dreaming."

So were audiences the world over when they also met Honor Blackman's Pussy Galore, the karate-chopping, jet-flying quintessential Bond girl to generations of movie fans.

Later this month Bermudians may have the opportunity to dream about Ms Blackman all over again if plans work out to fly her to the island as guest of honour at the Bermuda National Gallery's annual gala fund-raiser, a James Bond-themed event being held on Saturday, May 28 at the private home Red Barracks in St. George's.

Born in London, Honor Blackman credits her father for her acting career.

For her 15th birthday he offered her a choice: a bicycle or elocution classes. Feeling her accent was becoming a bit too Cockney, she chose the latter. Her teacher advised her father to enrol her in the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, which she attended part-time while working as an office clerk.

Upon graduation, her father once again influenced her career by suggesting that she audition as an understudy in a West End play, . When the show's lead actress fell ill, Honor had her first big break.

This led to her first film appearance, a non-speaking part in , wherein she was killed by a cavalryman ? and she was nearly killed for real by a horse that stepped on her hair while she was lying on the ground.

After a string of unremarkable "English rose"-type film roles while working as a contract player for the Rank Organisation, Honor struck gold when Leonard White hired her for the part of Cathy Gale in the classic TV show .

Tony Arnell, casting director, says: "I put Honor's name forward simply because she used to come and see a colleague of mine for help and advice. She was way down on her luck. I think her health wasn't good, her father had died, her first marriage was up the creek but she still looked amazing."

Her leather-clad Cathy Gale quickly became a TV icon on both sides of the Atlantic.

After two seasons she decided to leave series before the part got stale, ostensibly, and she returned to film. Her stint as an expert in hand-to-hand combat won her the juicy role of Pussy Galore in , after which she expanded into fantasy, horror and comedy vehicles.

Honor remained busy in both TV and film chalking up credits such as and the hugely successful comedy series.

More recently she was featured in , the TV series and is currently filming with John Malkovich.

Opposite Sean Connery in , she created one of cinema's most enduring figures and 40 years on, has not diminished in beauty or screen presence.

Honor has twice been the featured guest on the long-running tribute programme, , on December 17, 1969 (Thames TV) and again on February 17, 1993 (BBC TV). She is involved with an organisation called Fairtrade, which aims to ensure that Third world producers get treated fairly and can actually make a living from their work.

Tickets for the Bermuda National Gallery's James Bond fund-raising gala are $250 per person. They are available from the gallery or can be ordered online at www.bermudanationalgallery.com