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Mie Hama
Born	Hama Mie (浜 美枝) November 20, 1943 (1943-11-20) (age 66) Tokyo, Japan
Occupation	Actress

Mie Hama (b. 浜 美枝; Hama Mie, 20 November 1943, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actress, best-known for her role as Kissy Suzuki in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice. Her first name is pronounced "Mee-eh".

Career

Hama was working as a bus fare collector when she was spotted by producer Tomoyuki Tanaka. She went on to become one of the most in-demand actresses in Japan. Notable appearances included Toho Studio's monster movies such as King Kong Escapes. By the time she starred in You Only Live Twice, she had made more than 60 movies.

Hama was originally cast to play the character Aki (who was originally named Suki), and her co-star Akiko Wakabayashi was cast to play Kissy Suzuki. The two actresses were sent to London for three months, to be tutored in English.

Mie Hama and Wakabayashi switched roles, with Hama playing the smaller part of Kissy (although the character was in fact considered the main Bond girl); both voices were overdubbed in the final film. Due to illness during filming, the actress was doubled in diving scenes by Diane Cilento, Sean Connery's wife at the time. Mie Hama said of Sean Connery and his role as James Bond: "I like Connery. I don't like James Bond. Bond is always a playboy with many playgirls. Connery is a warm heart." ^[1]

Her measurments are 35-23-35 and her height is 5' 4½" (1.64 m)[1]^[2].

References

1. ^ IMDB bio
2. ^ Film fatales: women in espionage films and television, 1962-1973 by Tom Lisanti, Louis Paul, McFarland, 2002, ISBN 0786411945, 9780786411948, pages. 143-144

External links

• Mie Hama at the Internet Movie Database
• Portrait in Playboy
• Interview with Mie Hama