Olga Kurylenko gallery

Being a Bond girl is a claim that few actresses can attest to. These legendary ladies are forever remembered for roles which can only be described as mind-numbingly beautiful women who get wooed by the dashing secret agent and are typically dead by the time credits role. As lauded as these women are, they tend to blend together after a certain point until only a few stand out. One of these is Camille Montes. She defeats death and the magnetism of James Bond when she walks away with only a simple kiss. Camille stands out in a sea of beauties, just like the woman who played her; Olga Kurylenko

Olga is a Bond girl, an accomplished actress, and a model – but she is so much more than this. Of all her accomplishments, her greatest is being a philanthropist for underprivileged children.

Olga Kurylenko was born Olha Kostyantynivna Kurylenko on November 14, 1979 in Berdyansk, Ukraine (then part of the Soviet Union). She grew up surrounded by poverty and was raised by a single mother after her parents divorced when she was three. When Olga was just thirteen, she was discovered by a modeling scout in Moscow. That was when life drastically changed for Olga. By the time she was seventeen years old, she had a signed contract with the Paris based Madison modeling agency. In a year's time, Olga had landed covers for Vogue and Elle. While Olga was living the luxurious life of a fashion model in Paris, she never forgot about her roots and continued to support her mother who still lived and taught art in Berdyansk.

Her modeling career continued with great success. Olga Kurylenko became associated with Bebe, the Triumph and Lejaby lingerie lines, Helena Rubinstein, just to name a few, and modeled for Roberto Cavalli. In 2001, she became a French citizen, and more doors seemed to open for her. Her career took a different path in 2005 when she gave award winning performances in the French film L'Annulaire. From there, her acting career flourished, giving way to roles in Paris, je t'aime and Hitman before landing her most famous role as Cami

Oh, and she's an occasional model, actress, and Bond Girl

lle Montes in Quantum of Solace.

What sets Olga Kurylenko apart is how much she gives back.

She is a very involved philanthropist, dedicated to helping underprivileged children – particularly in her home country, Ukraine. Growing up in poverty impacted her inclination toward charity. She she believes that true philanthropy involves effort beyond donations. She dedicates her time not only to fund raising but also to raising awareness to the issues close to her heart. She successfully uses her fame, particularly after appearing as a Bond girl, to increase philanthropic activity in the Ukraine.

Just like Camille Montes, Olga Kurylenko is more than a pretty face. She is a strong, independent woman who sees it her mission to make a difference in the world. She also still has time for work and her career continues for flourish with several movies slated for 2012. Among those is Empires of the Deep. This 3D fantasy action film will be the largest US-China cinematic collaboration to date.

Olga has been on the radar since she was a teenager, and she is here to stay. Whether modeling, acting, or bringing awareness to childhood poverty in the Ukraine, she is someone to keep your eye on. Well-known for playing a heroine on the big screen, she is genuinely a heroine in real life. A true renaissance woman who continues to impress the world with her accomplishments, giving more than she receives.