Honor Blackman was born in London's East End to Edith Eliza Stokes, a homemaker, and Frederick Thomas Blackman, a statistician employed by the Civil Service. She was one of four children. Blackman received elocution lessons for her 16th birthday and later attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she paid for her tuition by working as a clerical assistant.
During World War II, Blackman worked as a dispatch rider for the Home Office, playing an important role in the war effort. She began her acting career on stage in London's West End, understudying in "The Guinea Pig" and later appearing in "The Gleam" and "The Blind Goddess".
Blackman's film debut was in "Fame Is the Spur" (1947),starring Michael Redgrave. She continued to work in film and television, including the popular TV series "The Avengers" (1961),where she played the iconic character Catherine Gale. She also appeared in the James Bond film "Goldfinger" (1964) as Pussy Galore.
Throughout her career, Blackman worked consistently in film, television, and stage, earning rave reviews for her performances. She was married to actor Bill Sankey and later to Maurice Kaufmann, with whom she adopted two children. After her retirement, Blackman continued to work, appearing in various films and television shows, including "Bridget Jones's Diary" (2001) and "Coronation Street" (1960).
Blackman died on April 5, 2020, at the age of 94, in Lewes, Sussex.
