A tall, and beautiful, actress, many of Valerie Leon’s characters knew what they wanted and were happy to help themselves, occasionally dominating and intimidating her targets of desire.

A unique and glamourous talent, no-one can look down their nose or enter a room led by their shoulder with equal comic and stylish effect like a gliding Valerie Leon in full sail.

Traversing horror, spy, and saucy comedy films across the 1960s and 70s, Valerie was able to hold her own whatever the genre.

Her many credits take in iconic British productions, including two James Bond films, six Carry On films, “The Avengers“, “Revenge of The Pink Panther” with Peter Sellers, “The Saint”, “Space 1999″ with Martin Landau & Barbara Bain, the farcical “Smashing Time”, and the classic 1960s caper “The Italian Job” with Michael Caine.

Before Joan Collins in the Cinzano commercials with Leonard Rossiter, Valerie Leon inspired in the Hai Karate aftershave ads from 1969 onwards. A precursor to the Lynx/Axe adverts of recent years, Valerie finds herself irrestistibly drawn to unassuming men who douse themselves in the fragrance.

Her height, normally referred to as Amazonian, was put to comic use in her Carry On appearances but for the serious business of horror, her co -stars were equally tall.

Valerie’s largest film role was in “Blood From The Mummy’s Tomb” – in fact she played two parts which secured more screen time.

Whether she’s dressed as the Egyptian Queen or munching suggestively on a banana, the film is an ode to Valerie.

Discover the group of Valerie Leon pop art.

Before his name became synonymous with Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy of films, David Prowse’s tall and muscular frame was put to spooky use as the monster in “Horror Of Frankenstein”. It was his first serious appearance as the monster and in a Hammer horror film.

The British weightlifting champion of the early 1960s, he represented England in international competitions. As the Green Cross Code Man, David implored children to stop, look, and listen when crossing the road in a series of public information films from 1975.

He’d featured in the 1967 James Bond spoof Casino Royale as Frankenstein’s monster and then in 1974, he reprised the role in another Hammer film, albeit with more gruesome make-up – certainly not as flattering as the buff bodybuilder version, with bandages and painted-on scars, which appeared in “Horror Of Frankenstein”.

David has appeared in beloved productions such as Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange”, “Carry On Henry”,“Space 1999″ with Martin Landau & Barbara Bain, “Up Pompeii” (which also featured Valerie Leon), “The Saint”, “Callan” with Edward Woodward, “The Champions”, “Department S”, “Doctor Who”, and “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”, plus cult oddities including “Black Snake” which co-starred fellow Hammer alumni, Anouska Hempel. David appeared in many comedy shows including “The Benny Hill Show”, “The Two Ronnies“, “The Kenneth Williams Show”, and “The Dick Emery Show”.

Browse the Horror Of Frankenstein group.

Before her current incarnation as a stylish hotelier, Antipodean Anouska Hempel descended on Swinging London and promptly secured roles in films and television shows.

Anouska appeared as one of Blofeld’s angels of death in the George Lazenby James Bond film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service“, a firm fan-favourite of the spy film series, along with her “Scars of Dracula” co-star Jenny Hanley, plus Julie Ege.

OHMSS also starred Diana Rigg and Joanna Lumley who she appeared with again a year later in “The Breaking of Bumbo” before her role of Tania in “Scars of Dracula” alongside Christopher Lee.

With a part in a Carry On film also under her belt, Anouska turned her back on the entertainment industry to move into hospitality.

Now known as Lady Weinberg, Anouska established Blakes Hotel in 1978, one of the world’s first luxury boutique hotels, and continues to design hotels, restaurants, yachts, and residences to this day.

See the Scars of Dracula Pair.