An icy blonde in the Grace Kelly mold, Rosamund Pike made her pop-cultural debut as a Bond girl, but had the classics in her roots. The London-bred only daughter of professional opera singers, Pike was accepted at age 16 into the National Youth Theater where she was eventually cast in her first lead role at age 18 , a stage production of "Romeo and Juliet." The perfromance landed her an agent, and she embarked on a professional career while also attending Oxford University, where she studied English Literature at Wadham College and toured with the university production of "The Taming of the Shrew." In 1998 she appeared in her first film role, "A Rather English Marriage" starring Tom Courtenay and Albert Finney. She also starred in the BBC's "Wives and Daughters" (2000) and "Love in a Cold Climate" (2001), based on Nancy Mitford's books. In 2002 Pike became an internationally recognized figure after being cast as the appropriately-named Miranda Frost in the 20th James Bond outing, "Die Another Day." Although only 22 when the action film was shot, Pike nicely held her own against A-list movie stars Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry and Judi Dench.
Pike headlined the Isreali/French-made drama "Promised Land" (2004) and appeared in a supporting role opposite Johnny Depp and John Malkovich in the big screen adaptation of Stephen Jeffrey's play "The Libertine" (2005), starring Depp as the 17th Century's debauched Earl of Rochester. After appearing thankslessly as the scientist twin sister of Karl Urban's character in the ill-conceived film version of the popular video game "Doom" (2005), the actress then gave a winsome, restrained performance as the eldest, shyest Bennett sister Jane opposite Keira Knightley in director Joe Wright's lively 2005 adapatation of the Jane Austen classic "Pride and Prejudice."