Born in 1949, British actress Caroline Munro grew up, quite literally, a Catholic school girl. However, she started modeling professionally at the age of 17 after winning the "Face of the Year" contest in The Evening News.
Muro's curvacious good looks quickly led to film roles, with fans of British 1970s horror films remembering her fondly as Dr. Phibes' deceased wife in "The Abominable Dr. Phibes" and "Dr. Phibes Rises Again"; as a Satanist hippy turned into vampire food in "Dracula 1972 A.D."; and as a feisty gypsy woman with a love of low-cut, tight blouses in "Captain Chronos - Vampire Hunter".
Muro was busiest during the 1970s, appearing in various states of undress in a variety of horror, action, and sci-fi films--with her supporting role in "The Spy Who Loved Me" perhaps being the pinnacle of her fame. During this time, she also had the distinction of being the only actress to ever having been held under contract by Hammer Films.
With the 1980s, Munro started to slip into obscurity, but she continued to appear in horror films, much to the delight of genre fans. During 1990s, she focused on her family and her two children, but by the early 2000s, she once again stepped before the camera on a regular basis. Three of her last four films have been horror movies--"Flesh for the Beast" (2003), "The Absence of Light" (2006) and the bizarre horror musical "Eldorado" (2012).
A true beauty! She is the very definition of "sultry".
ReplyDeleteI've always read that she "hurt" her career by never allowing herself to be filmed completely nude. I'm not aware of her ever appearing in the buff, but to my mind this adds an element of sophistication to her career it might otherwise lack.
I recently saw images of her these days and she's still a knock out!
Rip Off
Yep, this a knock out. Wow! This pic is hot, but I've seen hotter!!
ReplyDeleteI've never bought the "her career was hurt because she didn't do nude scenes" rationale. Sure, it was the 70s, but I'm sure there were plenty of producers who used their casting couches just for sitting.
ReplyDeleteI think there are so many elements, each of which act on and with each other that make or break a career that no one factor can be singled out. Especially not on-screen nudity.
And I agree that it gives Munro class that some of her fellow B-movie collegues lack.
I adore her - but apparently the no nudity clause only applied in the Western Hemisphere - as I own an 8X10 of her topless laying in rushing waters with Asian (likely Japanese) writing on it.
ReplyDeleteCaroline Munro was one of my favorites. She had that elusive "something" that just made her stand out even in genre roles of less than sterling quality. I can respect her for not showing more skin even as I lament the fact that she didn't!
ReplyDelete