Tilly Masterton

Tilly Masterton / Tilly Masterson
Character from the James Bond franchise
Relatives	Jill Masterton (sister)
Portrayed by	Tania Mallet

Tilly Masterton is a fictional character in Ian Fleming's James Bond novel, Goldfinger.

The character was adapted for the 1964 film, Goldfinger, however, her name was changed to Tilly Masterson. Likewise her sister, Jill, was renamed Masterson as well. Tilly was played by Tania Mallet.

Novel biography

In the novel, Tilly first appears following Auric Goldfinger's car across Europe in her Triumph TR3; Bond wrecks the Triumph by reversing into it in his Aston Martin with specially strengthened bumpers, and she then persuades him to give her a lift to Geneva. On the way Bond questions her about her destination and she answers that she is competing in a women's golf championship and gives 'Soames' as her surname; after parting ways with her, he quickly learns that she has given him false information. She is described as being black-haired, blue-eyed and very beautiful, with a stubborn, independent manner.

Bond next encounters her later that night as he attempts to infiltrate Auric Enterprises. He finds her in the position of a sniper, intending to shoot Goldfinger and then flee the country. He overpowers her and learns that she seeks to avenge her sister, who Goldfinger had murdered for assisting Bond in humiliating him earlier in Miami. During this exchange their presence is detected and they are subsequently captured and taken to Goldfinger, who hypnotises and interrogates Tilly. Bond offers Goldfinger her services in addition to his own in a last-ditch effort to save their lives, and he accepts. They then travel to the United States as his captives and are tasked with secretarial work for the upcoming Operation Grand Slam. During this time, Bond learns that she is 24 and lives in Earls Court. He tries to endear himself to her, but she remains unreceptive to his advances.

She is revealed as a lesbian and shows a strong attraction to Pussy Galore, the leader of an all female criminal gang called "The Cement Mixers" who are to take part in the operation Grand Slam posing as nurses. After the operation is compromised, Bond tries to protect Tilly, who refuses his help and instead runs desperately seeking the aid of Pussy Galore, but Oddjob reaches her and kills her with his hat – just days after he had murdered her sister by "paint suffocation".

Film biography

Tilly plays a somewhat smaller role in the film version of the book. She is first introduced when James Bond is following Goldfinger when he lands in Geneva. 007 is calmly driving along the road when Tilly speeds around a corner and beeps her horn, wanting to get past.

Bond obliges and decides to pursue when he sees her drive past. However 007 restrains himself commenting "Discipline 007!". He stops on the edge of a hill when he notices Goldfinger has stopped below him.

Unknown to Bond, Tilly is trying to shoot Goldfinger with her AR-7, as revenge for his having killed her sister Jill, but misses completely, nearly hitting Bond in the process. She escapes in her car and 007 follows. After a short game of cat and mouse, Bond uses the tire shredder feature on his Aston Martin and shreds both Tilly's tires. 007 escorts her to the nearest garage, but she refuses any additional help and said to Bond that her name is Till "Soames".

Bond and Tilly Masterson meet up once more at Goldfinger's factory, where once again she is trying to kill Goldfinger. Bond stops her, but she accidentally sets off an alarm saying to Bond that Goldfinger killed her sister-Jill Masterson, even though she didn't mention her sister's last name, Bond immediately realizes that her real name is actually Tilly Masterson, since Jill was one of Bond's love interests. Goldfinger's henchmen pursue Tilly and Bond in his Aston Martin, but by using its various features, he disposes of some of the following cars. However the road suddenly stops, forcing Tilly to run into the forest with 007 giving cover fire. Oddjob appears and hurls his hat at Tilly, breaking her neck. When Bond reaches her, she is already dead.