Margaret Nolan, Famous for Being the Gold-Painted Model & Actress in 'Goldfinger' Dies at 76

Renowned actress Margaret Nolan, famous for iconic roles in “Goldfinger” and “A Hard Day’s Night,” has passed away at 76. Nolan lived a wonderful life with impactful roles.

Actress Margaret Nolan, responsible for impacting the modeling industry with her role in “Goldfinger,” has passed away at 76 on October 5. The tragic news was announced by her son, Oscar Deeks, in a statement to Variety.

However, he didn't reveal the cause of her death. Nolan gained prominence when she played the iconic gold-painted model in the 1964 James Bond movie, establishing herself as a talented actress.

Her demise was further confirmed by director Edgar Wright who took to Twitter to pay tribute to her legacy in the industry. Sharing a collage of Nolan in different movies, Wright praised her talent, writing:

“She was the middle of Venn diagram of everything cool in the ‘60s; having appeared with the Beatles, been beyond iconic in Bond and been part of the Carry On cast too.”

He continued, listing other films she was part of before lauding her skill as a visual artist. Wright concluded the tribute with a recent photo of an aged Nolan on his laps as they playfully posed for the camera. He explained that his last collaboration with her was last year and noted that she was sweet and hilarious as ever.

Nolan started her career as a model, but that soon changed when her photo was given to a producer.

The 46-year-old director sent his condolences to Nolan’s family and noted that she would be deeply missed by the world. The actress, who was born in Somerset, England on October 29, 1943, also starred alongside The Beatles in the musical comedy, “A Hard Day’s Night,” and in several movies under the “Carry On” franchise.

Although her role in “Goldfinger” was at the end credits, her performance was unforgettable. It led to posters, records, and even books portraying women painted in gold from head-to-toe because of her character.

As seen on her website, Nolan started her career as a model, but that soon changed when her photo was given to a producer, who gave her the first acting gig. She starred in a couple of movies, shows, and plays and in 1980, took a break from acting.

In 2011, she returned in the comedy “The Power of Three” and made her last film appearance in 2019 in Wright’s upcoming movie, “Last Night in Soho.” Nolan was survived by her sons, Oscar Deeks and Luke O’Sullivan, who are both doing well in the industry.