Jaclyn Smith Reveals Why 'Charlie's Angels' Role Stopped Her From Playing a Bond Girl
Anyone would jump at the opportunity to become a Bond girl opposite the 007 spy. Charlie's Angels star Jaclyn Smith spilled the truth on having been offered a role in the spy franchise, and why she ended up turning it down.
It was a trip down memory lane during PaleyFest's Charlie's Angels 50th anniversary reunion. As the original 1976 crime drama stars reunited, Smith recalled how her role as Kelly Garrett on the popular series stopped her from being a Bond girl. She claims having said no to the role due to her "Texas upbringing."
"I had a contract [for ‘Charlie's Angels'] and, you know, Houston upbringing, you follow your contract," said the 80-year-old actor. "And Aaron [Spelling] was the first to invite me to the party, so I was honoring my contract."
Smith adds that she has no regrets over having let go of the role, and believes it "wasn't meant to be." She strongly believes that "things happen for a reason." What was the role? Smith was given the chance to play the character of Dr. Holly Goodhead in the 1979 film Moonraker. At the time, the role of Bond was played by Roger Moore, and with Smith rejecting the role, Dr. Goodhead went to actor Lois Chiles.
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According to reports, Chiles was originally offered the role of Anya Amasova in The Spy Who Loved Me, but turned it down when she temporarily retired. She was later given the role in Moonraker by chance after sitting next to director Lewis Gilbert during a flight.
Smith later revealed she was also offered a leading role in Beetlejuice, but turned it down after reading the script. She explained, "It doesn't always ring true to you, and it's about what you can bring to it."
It just so happens she also turned down a role in 9½ Weeks opposite John Travolta, also feeling she wasn't right for the role. Neither actors starred in the film, with the leads going to Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger. Smith ended up starring in Charlie's Angels for its entirety on air from 1976 until 1981.
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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 10:22 AM.