Julie Christie was born in Assam in 1941, her father St John Christie running a tea plantation in then-colonial India. Her mother Rosemary filed for divorce following his affair -- and two children -- with an Indian mistress.
Julie went to live with her mother, an artist, in Wales. Rosemary's old Welsh chum, legendary actor Richard Burton, might have driven Julie towards acting.
Her first big break was a sci-fi show on the BBC called A For Andromeda back in 1961. Her striking looks made producers sit up and notice, and she was considered for the Honey Ryder role in Dr No but was dropped 'because she wasn't busty enough,' in favour of Ursula Andress.
Photograph: A stunning Julie in A For Andromeda
Also read: Nominee Spotlight: Marion Cotillard
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