She Was a Hollywood Bombshell in the ’70s, but After Plastic Surgery ‘Destroyed’ Her Face, She Could No Longer Act in Movies

In an attempt to preserve her youthful looks, this 1970s Bond Girl underwent a cosmetic procedure she hoped would enhance her appearance. Instead, the experience turned into a nightmare, leaving her disfigured and regretful.

The devastating experience forced her to step away from appearing in front of the camera and brought her under horrible public scrutiny. Take a closer look at her life over the years, the botched procedure that left her traumatized, and see what she looks like now at 82.

This actress’s rise to fame began as a teenager, appearing in chewing gum advertisements and modeling. These modest beginnings paved the way for her to become one of the most photographed women of the 1970s.

Her undeniable beauty and elegance captured the attention of Hollywood, propelling her into stardom. Her breakthrough role came as a Bond Girl alongside Roger Moore in “The Man with the Golden Gun,” solidifying her place among the most glamorous stars of her era.

Their whirlwind romance began in January 1964 after Sellers spotted her photograph in a newspaper and sent his valet to deliver a message.

“I thought that I would like to meet what I saw,” Sellers later admitted. The couple married just ten days after their first date. However, behind the scenes, their relationship was far from perfect.

According to her, Sellers, known for his mercurial nature, was “very possessive and very, very moody,” often threatening her with divorce and then just as suddenly reconciling.

His fits of jealousy added strain to their relationship. While “The Man with the Golden Gun” star emphasized that the abuse was never physical, she would have left soon.

“I know that sounds horrible. [But] I’m just being practical,” she admitted. She stopped short of outright labeling the relationship abusive but described it as “emotional and psychological warfare.”

She later endured more pain with the passing of her mother from Alzheimer’s disease at age 78. Her mother had been a significant support throughout her career. “Wherever I worked, she always came,” the actress fondly recalled.

Her second marriage to a much younger Stray Cats drummer, Slim Jim Phantom, drew attention due to their over 17-year age gap. The couple wed in 1984 but separated after eight years in 1992.

Throughout her life, the actress found joy in raising her three children. Her eldest child, daughter Victoria Sellers, born in 1965, made her mark in Hollywood as an actress, landing roles in films such as “Warlords” and “Inevitable Grace.”

Her second son and youngest child, T.J. McDonnell, born in 1988 to the actress and her third husband Peter McDonnell, also followed his mother’s footsteps into the film industry.

A Cosmetic Nightmare

Britt Ekland’s story took a harrowing turn in the 1990s when, in her fifties, she decided to undergo a cosmetic procedure in Paris. What she expected to be a moderate enhancement turned into a traumatic experience that left her with lifelong consequences.

According to reports, promoted as a “new dental material,” Articol was risky, with permanent effects. Wendy Lewis, a cosmetic surgery consultant, revealed that the filler was briefly popular in the 1990s but is now rarely used and was never approved in the U.S.

“For a very long time, I couldn’t really do television or films,” she admitted, as opposed to theater, where the distance between her and the audience allowed her some respite. Still, the ordeal left her scarred — both physically and emotionally.

“Oh dear, she used to be so attractive. Other women thinking about cosmetic procedures should think again!” one social media user commented about the actress. Another shared, “What a mess! She was so pretty back in the day. She ruined herself.”

Another person wrote, “She was breathtakingly beautiful back in the day. What a shame to have ruined it through unnecessary work” and a sixth shared, “Jesus, what has she done to herself? That photograph would fit in any horror display.”

In hindsight, she expressed regret for her decision to undergo cosmetic surgery. She emphasized feeling content aging naturally, adding that while she underwent cosmetic procedures in her 50s, she had no interest in doing it again.

She encourages embracing natural aging, sharing, “It’s not really until today, when I’m a really old woman, that I can see, ‘I’m satisfied. I like myself.'”

Beyond her personal journey, Ekland also faced heartache within her family. Her grandson Lucas, born to her son Nic, was diagnosed with ALD. Although devastating, early diagnosis allowed for timely intervention, giving Lucas a fighting chance.

Ekland has since become an advocate for newborn screening, campaigning for the UK to add ALD testing to its standard procedures, “So that all these boys have a future,” she explained.

One user online commented, “She was beautiful. Shame [sic] she and her surgeon did not know when to stop with the surgery and fillers.”

Regardless, Ekland’s resilience shines through her reflections on life. While the consequences of her cosmetic decisions remain, her journey from regret to self-acceptance is a testament to her enduring strength and willingness to grow.