Tracy Bond. The queer icon we deserved.
In this tribute to the late Diana Rigg, Sam Rogers compares the way Tracy Bond is presented in the book and the film of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and asks: “Why does Tracy resonate with me and many other fans? And how do her own triumphs and tribulations correlate with the queer community, and gay men in particular?”
When writing about women in my Bury Your Bond Girls article, I exclaimed that gay men like me traditionally look at women as being role models/people to look up to. This is certainly true with Tracy Bond (aka Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo, aka Mrs Bond, a.k.a. badass).
As my favourite Bond girl, and one of my favourite characters in film, Tracy is a huge part of the appeal of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service with a lot more running time being devoted to developing her character (and relationship with Bond) more than any others who came before and many who came after.
“This is nobody’s fault but my own.” – Tracy’s suicide note to her father (in the novel by Ian Fleming)
Many people may think of Tracy as a tragic character as we get introduced to her at one of the darkest moments in her life, find out about her upbringing and private life, see her relationship with Bond grow and develop and just as she’s able to breathe easy and really love her life, it’s shattered in seconds with her death.
I have to admit, I hadn’t read the Fleming novel when beginning to form this article (with the death of Diana Rigg being the prompt for me to seriously consider writing it). I had read sections as part of an essay for college and felt like I definitely needed to bring up Tracy’s literary persona alongside her on-screen counterpart when talking about her character, especially as some key information from the novel isn’t introduced to us in the film.
One of Tracy’s main components that isn’t featured as explicitly in the film adaptation is her mental state, with only a few moments of the film highlighting her problems, including her suicide attempt in the pre-credit sequence and Draco’s conversation with Bond (“she needs help”). Aside from this, we don’t see too much of Tracy in a weak or overwhelmed position in the film, whereas Tracy in the novel is a lot more visibly fragile. The novel, again via her father Marc-Ange Draco, tells us key information about her life which allows the audience to sympathise with Tracy, a person who lost one parent at an early age with the other parent not taking the responsibility to raise her correctly (instead just giving her what she wanted, not needing, and shipping her off to boarding school). It makes sense for her to have become a “wild child” and become part of scandals throughout her young life, a coping mechanism in order to not face the trauma that has taken place. Tracy goes through some truly horrendous times with her marrying Count Giulio di Vicenzo, someone who was much more interested in her money than her, who eventually takes her money, leaves her and perishes in a car crash with his mistress. On top of that, she has his child, someone who she could focus on and give her some meaning out of the disastrous marriage, but tragically the baby passes away after only a few months due to spinal meningitis. To think that she is my age (25) in the novel and has gone through such experiences so young is unfair and again allows the audience to really feel for this character.
Due to the experiences that she has faced, Tracy shifts from one personality to another, whether it’s one possessing sassy bravado, sadness, hysteria, or someone who is almost emotionless. It makes for an interesting read, especially after finding out her backstory. It makes her so much more relatable than other characters and really gives Tracy a larger character rather than being purely two-dimensional. I think many people would agree that they’ve felt similar to Tracy in one way or another, and that putting on an act of bravado is a way of masking the pain. It makes me sad as Tracy really does want to end her life in the beginning of the story as she truly believes she can’t be happy after what she has been through.
The feelings and actions that are portrayed by Tracy are something that that many people from the LGBT+ community (including myself) have felt at one time or another. Mentalhealth.org.uk states on their website that ”Evidence suggests people identifying as LGBT are at higher risk of experiencing poor mental health” with TheTrevorProject sharing that “Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24”. The idea that there is no hope and that a future isn’t achievable, especially after such a troubled past have taken place, is unfortunately a common conception, with the lack of a stable childhood/home life and not being able to speak to someone about your thoughts and feelings having a detrimental effect on your psyche (especially to those who are part of our community). To me, it’s why I really root for Tracy.
I do believe however that the novel tackles the mental health subject better than the film as the novel actually allows mental health to be part of Tracy’s ongoing story. As much as I love the film and Tracy’s portrayal, I think it would have been interesting to see further vulnerability and honesty with regards to Tracy’s mental state, whereas it truly seems that she meets Bond and everything’s suddenly fine for her. We may laugh off Draco’s line of “What she needs is a man, to dominate her” but, as fine as domination can perhaps be (within a consensual context!), in relation to Tracy and her mental health it’s quite an uncomfortable line. Luckily, the film really does give Tracy a stronger character who rarely seems to be ‘under Bond’ and actually appears on his level or even higher. Had further elements of the novel broken through to the film, I believe it could have just added a touch more to Tracy and the story itself. Tracy from the novel is near Piz Gloria because she goes to a swiss clinic for mental health, and although I think it’s fine in the film to have Tracy just looking for him, the plot would’ve been strengthened had Tracy decided herself that she needs to recuperate and look after herself and then saved and looked after Bond after his escape.
“I’ve always said that I thought equal pay gets you a long way to be treated equally by a man.” – Dame Diana Rigg
One of the biggest elements of Tracy that makes me want her to have a happy ending is her portrayal on-screen, with Dame Diana Rigg being one of, if not the best choice of actors for a role in the Bond series. A household name in her own right, Diana Rigg is known to audiences from across generations for her most popular roles including Mrs Emma Peel in The Avengers (1965-68), Lady Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones (2013-17) and of course Teresa di Vicenzo in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. What I find so fascinating about her is that although I’ve only seen her in a few pieces of media, she has always portrayed strong, larger than life female characters, whether it’s any of the characters listed above, the wicked Mrs Gillyflower in Doctor Who (2013), the bewitching Miss Hardbroom in The Worst Witch (1986) or the utterly camp and delusional Evil Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1987).
Diana Rigg is undoubtedly a gay icon, even moreso a legend within the media industry and much like her character in Game of Thrones extremely honest with her words. Her loss is extremely sad but the legacy will always live on due to her impressive career spanning decades.
I sometimes question my own taste and decisions when taking in media as I have occasionally loved things a lot more than I should (*coughs* in Batman & Robin). Most of the time I’m very aware of what is “good” or “bad” pieces of media, so when I watched OHMSS for the first time in 2006 and ranked so many elements of the film highly, there was no doubt in my mind that Diana Rigg as Tracy deserved the praise that I was giving.
The film adaption of 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' is regarded as the closest adaption of any Bond novel. In the film, Tracy is characterised as Bond’s equal who can ski, drive and fight her way out of danger which is done much more effectively than the novel. This, along with elements of her personality, attracts Bond and she later meets the same fate as her novel counterpart. As the film shows Bond and her falling in love through a montage, Tracy seems to be much more comfortable in her own life with Bond at her side and rescues him when he is in trouble with the evil organisation S.P.E.C.T.R.E. The film further addresses Tracy’s hope for a family with her commenting that James has given her the best wedding present she could have: “a future”.
I truly appreciate that Tracy has more to do in the film. Her appearances pretty much match those in the novel until her and Bond escape from Irma Bunt and the SPECTRE henchmen. Everything from the barn scene to the battle at Piz Gloria is different because of Tracy’s inclusion with the former scene tapping into the love story and eventual proposal of marriage from Bond. These scenes are also key in helping the audience truly understand why Bond has fallen for her as she is able to cleverly respond to his quips and make her own, ski just as well as he does in the ensuing ski chase and even, when she is captured, she is cleverly able to outsmart Blofeld. The entire build up of the assault on Piz Gloria is tense and exciting as Bond is desperate to get Tracy back from Blofeld and stop him from executing his evil scheme. Tracy being part of this scene is not only a great reason for Draco agreeing to help Bond in the assault but it also gives us some of the best parts of the movie including the “Thy dawn, O Master of the World” poem which is cleverly delivered by Tracy in order to fool Blofeld and is the perfect backdrop to the dramatic few minutes after this. The scene being written by a gay man probably explains a lot.
What speaks to me about Tracy is that she does give as good as she gets, she very much does what she wants and is incredibly intellectual which, matched with her wit, is an attractive quality. Giving Bond a run for his money is also so much fun to see: she keeps him on his toes and yet still manages to be a person of comfort and protection for him. They support each other and that’s something rarely seen in Bond. As Tracy puts it “She pays her debts”. She’s relatable and it makes the ending much more tragic as one of her last lines is “Anyway you have given me a wedding present. The best I could have…a future.”
“Fantastique, chic, freak, slay!”
It’s perhaps a stereotypically gay man thing to proclaim but I adore Tracy’s looks in this film (the wardrobe for the entire cast is exceptional). I applaud the wardrobe department and designers who helped to style Diana Rigg in OHMSS as she looks so right in every single scene. It’s a case of ‘she could wear a potato sack and still look good’ but the variety of fabulous outfits that she wears throughout the film not only makes her look good but they also firmly establish her character’s style and even her mindset.
Throughout the film we see Tracy in a number of stylish outfits that are mostly made up of one- or two-colour tones, making her look very put together and fashionable. Her first appearance however is the one time in which, although she looks fashionable, Tracy isn’t in a simple outfit. I am of course referring to the pre-title sequence during her suicide attempt where she wears a bedazzled colourful kaftan-styled dress. To me, this outfit is a reflection of her current mental state, with the sporadic use of colours symbolising Tracy’s scattered emotional state and the overall kaftan look swallowing her body/shape which could symbolise her overpowering negative mentality leading her to attempt suicide. Again, I think it’s a shame that her mental health wasn’t a running theme or a continuous plot point throughout the film as I feel that her outfits could have shown her emotional progression as the film goes on.
A favourite of mine is the fur coat and hat combo worn during the car chase scene, which not only compliments her skating outfit but also offsets Bond’s completely uneven, unmatched outfit of a
tartan coat over a blue ski suit. It’s just another visual display of Bond’s vulnerability whilst Tracy is totally in the driver’s seat (quite literally). Another thing to briefly touch upon is that I love that this look is alluded to via Elektra King who wears a similar hat in her own scene in the snow, however she is taking Bond on a different kind of a ride (although there’s a lot more to say about Elektra being the anti-Tracy in The World is Not Enough).
I could talk about all of her outfits all day but I think the last one I would like to mention is of course her stunning wedding outfit, the main feature of this being that it isn’t a conventional wedding dress. On the contrary: it’s more of a jumpsuit than anything else, another way of showcasing how fashionable Tracy is but also how she doesn’t fit into a box or a certain stereotype; instead she’s her own woman, her own person. I think it also shows the audience once again that Tracy sees herself on Bond’s level, something that is backed up by one of her last lines with her father, “Remember, obey your husband in all things. You promise me?” “But of course I will. As I always obeyed you”.
The white flowers in her hair symbolise both purity and innocence as well as sympathy for a bereavement…which is kind of bang on the nose in terms of Tracy in her final scenes, an innocent bystander who dies with flowers in her hair.
“There's no hurry, you see. We have all the time in the world.” – James Bond
The ending. What can you say about it! We come off the back of Blofeld’s defeat, the destruction of Piz Gloria and Bond saving the day, with him marrying Tracy. I remember watching the wedding scene for the first time knowing what was going to happen feeling so unnerved by it. Everyone is so happy (bar a slightly distraught Moneypenny), Tracy looks beautiful and Bond looks like he’s about to turn over his Walther and start a new life…which isn’t an option for Bond in his world. As they depart from the wedding, Bond and Tracy discuss future plans, visibly enjoy each other’s company and verbally spar with each other; it’s just too good to be true.
I will say that I prefer the film version of Tracy’s death than the novel which is a much more high-octane drive. There is a car crash and Tracy dies on impact. I think the off chance of one stray bullet instantly killing Tracy whilst her and Bond are parked up is so much more chilling and heartbreaking (the last shot of the cracked windscreen with a hint of Tracy’s veil/headscarf is hauntingly beautiful). It’s a weird ending to view especially to those who aren’t massive fans and have only one idea of how a Bond film can end. It subverts expectations in the right way and isn’t done for the sake of shock but more to illustrate that Bond will never be able to fully settle down with one woman and live a happy life. Bond’s reaction at seeing that Tracy is gone shows him at one of his most vulnerable moments, emphasising that this woman was his new life, someone who completely understood him and who he adored. Seeing the ending always makes me think of their first real conversation where she proclaims “people who want to stay alive play it safe” and unfortunately for her, Bond isn’t a safe option.
Tracy is represented as an ideal, modern woman of the time, one who can challenge men to an extent but still retains some qualities that make her realistic and more believable in the world of Bond. Her character in the grand scheme of things is Bond’s way out of the secret service, a hope for a ‘better’ life by having a wife and children, without the stress of being a secret agent. Looking at Tracy this way could show Tracy more as a plot device than an individual character, which is quite a disservice to her. Tracy is never given the luxury of a real family but at least manages to find inner peace, marry her love and have a new positive outlook on a life that was never fulfilled. It was interesting of Fleming to have referenced Vesper Lynd at the beginning of OHMSS as he really emphasises that so much has happened since Casino Royale and his first love’s death that Bond is now ready to try to love again but with a similar outcome.
Many people may think of Tracy as a tragic character, but I don’t agree. There is so much more to her than the tragic moments, and that’s something that all of us should think about whether we look at other people or ourselves. Whether you are a part of the LGBT+ community or not, we all go through awful times like Tracy, sometimes to the brink of destruction. However, just like she did, we can find a way out of that mindset and look to a better future. Whether it’s through just talking to someone, building strong relationships or letting go of those who hold you back, there is always help out there (although I’m sure Draco wouldn’t agree with me saying that none of us, including Tracy, need a man to dominate us to help us move forwards). Ultimately, Tracy made her decisions, and went through an extraordinary journey of highs and lows. How can you define a character like that as tragic? Teresa was no saint but my god…Tracy was close to perfection.
As well as being a lifelong Bond fan, Sam Rogers is also a Marketing Executive with a degree in TV and radio. He lives in Manchester, England.
You can find him on Twitter @SamR_1995
If you have been affected by any issues covered in this article, particularly the subject of suicide and/or are struggling especially during this uncertain time, please know that there is always someone to talk to. In the UK, Samaritans does great work to help those who are going through a difficult time, so if you would like to talk to someone, they will be there at 116 123 or visit their website at www.samaritans.org.
For international contacts, see the bottom of David’s queer re-view of You Only Live Twice.
