Honor Blackman "The Brits would love her because they knew her as Mrs. Gale, the Yanks would like her because she was so good, it was a perfect combination". During the 1960s, Blackman practised judo at the famous Budokwai dojo. This helped her prepare for her roles as Cathy Gale in "The Avengers" and Pussy Galore in "Goldfinger." At 38, she was one of the oldest actresses to play a Bond girl,five years older than Sean Connery. In 1968 Blackman appeared opposite John Neville and Hylda Baker in the musical play "Mr & Mrs", based on the plays of Noël Coward. In
Honor Blackman Western films "Shalako" (1968) with Sean Connery and Brigitte Bardot and "Something Big" (1971) with Dean Martin. She played Hera in "Jason and the Argonauts" (1963), which is well known for the stop-motion animation and effects of Ray Harryhausen. She had roles in the films "Bridget Jones's Diary" (2001) and "Jack Brown and the Curse of the Crown" (also 2001). Albert R. Broccoli said Blackman was cast opposite Sean Connery in the James Bond films based on her success in the British television series "The Avengers". He knew that most American audiences would not have seen the programme. Broccoli said,