Olga Kurylenko

Olga has a very racy history – if it’s naughty she’s done it - everything from modeling naked in fetish outfits, to stripping off for a bondage scene in the erotic movie Le Serpent.

Born in Berdyansk, a small coastal town in south west Ukraine, Olga was raised by her mother and grandmother (her parents divorced soon after Olga’s birth). They lived in cramped state housing, sharing a small flat with several relations. Despite the relative poverty the young Olga managed to pursue studies in piano and ballet. At the age of 13, Olga and her mom visited Moscow. Waiting for a train in one of the (very elegant) subway stations, a modeling scout came up to the pair, suggesting Olga try out for a modeling agency.

As a result Olga moved to Moscow, to begin a modeling career. From the start she was busy, appearing in lots of catalogue work and promotional advertisements. After 3 years working for the Moscow agency, Olga decided she was ready to take the next step up the ladder.

Olga approached the Paris branch of modeling agency Madison, who were only too pleased to take her onto their books. She moved to Paris, learnt French, and very quickly her modeling career took off. She featured in many marketing campaigns for well-know designers like Helena Rubenstein, Bebe, Valentino and Sisley. She also appeared on the covers of fashion magazines, including US Glamour, Elle and Marie Claire.

Branching out from modeling into acting is difficult. But this didn’t dissuade Olga, who signed up in 2003 with a Parisian acting agency. Her first major role came in L’Annulaire (2005), in which Olga played Iris, a woman having a very sexually-charged affair with her boss. Next came an appearance in the memorable opening scene of Le Serpent (2006) - unfortunately her steamy performance was only too short lived. She managed to stay around a little longer in her next movie Hitman (2007), playing the sensuous Nika, the love interest of a ruthless, programmed assassin. Late 2008 saw Olga’s biggest role yet, as a Bond girl in Quantum of Solace, the sequel to Casino Royale.