#5: Rosa Klebb - From Russia with Love (1963)
In the earlier James Bond films, the roles women played were either as the Bond girls or villains. In the film and novel From Russia with Love, Rosa Klebb’s character is based on a popular Soviet phrase for women’s rights, khleb I rozy. Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya) is a tough, high-ranking official for SPECTRE (Special Executive For Counter-Intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion) having defected from SMERSH.
Rosa Klebb was unique in her methods of torture, her hatred of men and her cruelty. She carried a whip and had a pair of shoes specially equipped with a poisonous blade. Her joy in inflicting pain and misery and her attitude toward subordinates made her terrifying. Her unforgettable performance ranks her as a top 5 Bond villain.