Gloria Hendry


Gloria Hendry, also known inaccurately as Gloria Henry, is an American actress and former model. Hendry is best known for her roles in films from the 1970s, most notably: portraying Rosie Carver in 1973's James Bond film Live and Let Die; and Helen Bradley in the blaxploitation film Black Caesar, and the sequel, Hell Up in Harlem.

Biography

Early life and education

Born in Jacksonville or Winter Haven Florida, Hendry was the older of two daughters. Hendry is of Seminole, Creek Indian, Chinese, Irish and African descent. Hendry's family, which consisted of her mother and sister relocated to Newark, New Jersey to live with her grandparents during her early childhood. Hendry studied at Essex College of Business for Law.

Career

Hendry began professional career as a Playboy model, working at the New York club from 1965 until 1972. In 1968, Hendry received her first acting role in Sidney Poitier's film For Love of Ivy, followed by a small role in the 1970 film The Landlord. In 1973, Hendry portrayed the Bond girl Rosie Carver in the James Bond film Live and Let Die. In that film, she became the first African American woman to become romantically involved with 007; Trina Parks, who played a nemesis to Bond rather than a love interest in Diamonds Are Forever is considered to be the first African-American Bond girl.
When Live and Let Die was first released in South Africa, her love scenes with Roger Moore were cut out because it was prohibited by the Apartheid government. Hendry later starred in several 1970s blaxploitation films, including Across 110th Street, Slaughter's Big Rip-Off, and both the 1973 films Black Caesar and its sequel Hell Up in Harlem. She also portrayed the martial arts expert, Sydney, in Black Belt Jones, and appeared in Savage Sisters and Bare Knuckles. Her later films included the horror film and the action comedy Freaky Deaky.

Personal

Hendry has been married once and has no children. In 1995, Hendry married Jazz musician Phillip Wayne Wright. She completed a memoir, entitled Gloria. In it she discusses Bond, the films of the 1970s, working as a Bunny at the famous Playboy Club in the 1960s, modeling, singing and her experiences as an African American woman during the 1960s.