You are in the Special Features section - Valerie Leon, star of Carry On films, James Bond and Hammer Horror and also the Hai Karate ads

Digger: What would you have been if you had not gone for that first audition and got the job?

Valerie:  A Fashion Buyer at Harrods where I trained.

Digger: How would you describe the two James Bonds, Roger and Sean, and what are your memories of working with them?

Valerie: Roger Moore was more easy going and fun and Sean was more of a perfectionist. I fondly remember Roger's unscripted kiss in an episode of  'The Persuaders!'      

Digger: What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a beautiful six-foot tall woman?

Valerie: You get remembered! But men are more likely to be intimidated. At least that was my experience when I was younger.

Digger: What makes you laugh, what makes you angry and what makes you sad?

Valerie: Cracker Jokes make me laugh! Rudeness and bad manners make me angry. Death makes me sad.

Digger: What do you consider your biggest achievement to-date?

Valerie: Being remembered almost  a quarter of a century after my last major film.

Digger: And what do you still want to accomplish?

Valerie: True Stardom!!

Digger: What are your fondest memories of the sixties and the seventies?

Valerie: I have fond memories of appearing with Barbra Streisand in 1966 at The Prince of Wales Theatre, London. That was in Funny Girl and was very special. The 70's were more special - I got married in 1974, gave birth to my son in 1975 and my daughter in 1977.

Valerie is amazed at the fact that she gets more fan mail these days than in her heyday which she considers the 70's to be. People from all over the world, many much too young to remember her first time around, are big fans. This popularity is probably due to the fact that many of her roles, such as the Carry Ons and cult ITC series such as 'The Persuaders!', Space 1999 and The Saint, are all available on DVD and, indeed, she has even done the extra feature commentaries on some of them. She also visits towns and cities around the world signing and meeting people at conventions and signings.

It's as a result of working with Roger Moore four times on the Bond set, on 'The Persuaders!', on The Wild Geese and The Saint that she holds him in particular regard as a gentleman and a funny man (as did Shirley Eaton and Annette Andre who also worked with him and interviewed for us.) Valerie thinks that both Roger Moore and Sean Connery brought different qualities to the role of Bond, and believes that Pierce Brosnan manages to bring a kind of combination of both of their main qualities to his portrayal - humour and professionalism. 

In the infamous Hai Karate ads in the late 60's and early 70's, a tall buxom women is driven irresistibly wild by the aftershave worn by a puny little man and destroys everything in her path  to seduce him! These ads were a classic example of the power of advertising and did the product, and Valerie, a lot of good, although arguably she was type-cast into sexy roles and does admit that she might have liked some more meatier roles.

Digger:  What did you actually think of the Hai Karate fragrance?

Valerie: I didn't think about the Hai Karate fragrance. I was just pleased to be associated with a commercial that was such a success every Christmas for about 6 years.

Valerie: Some favourite actresses are Julia Roberts, Vanessa Redgrave, Diana Rigg and Shirley Maclaine amongst others. Actors, Jude Law, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Michael Gambon. Musicians - Barbra Streisand, Miriam Friedman. Films - Gone with the Wind and Doctor Zhivago. 

Digger: What were the funniest moments filming the Carry On series of films?

Valerie: It is great to have been a part of  The Carry On film Series. However, my roles were not especially funny. I was there as a sexy foil or as the butt of comedy jokes.

Digger: What advice would you give to any young ladies thinking about a career 'on the stage'?

Valerie: The acting profession is so overcrowded it is very important to be able to earn a living in a different field and not rely on waiting for your agent to phone.

Digger: What are your current projects and what do you have lined-up for the future?

Valerie:  I was seen over Christmas on BBC 2 in "Crumpet" A Very British Sex Symbol. I am soon  appearing in a short film Gas (details to appear shortly on my website). In February or March 2006 . I will be seen in an episode of Last of The Summer Wine.  And I am currently in talks about appearing in a short  film to be shot in  Kent. In addition, I also set up opera lectures and arts-related events. The web site www.valerieleon.com should shortly be updated with latest information.

I would like to thank the very busy Valerie for her kind cooperation with this interview.

www.valerieleon.com