Character information
Name(s):	Miss Taro
Hair/eye color:
Height/weight:
Occupation:	Secretary, Spy
Affiliation:	Dr. Julius No
Status:	Arrested / Unknown
Behind the scenes
Role:	Bond girl / Henchman
Portrayed By:	Zena Marshall
First Appearance:	Dr. No (Novel)
Last Appearance:	Dr. No (Film)

Miss Taro is a fictional character appearing in the Ian Fleming novel, Dr. No and its 1962 film adaptation. She was the secretary to Pleydell Smith (the Chief Secretary of the colonial government in Jamaica) and an informant working for the villain, Dr. Julius No. While she provides an important, but small role in the novel, in the film her role in the story was expanded significantly. She was portrayed by Zena Marshall.

Novel biography

In the novel, Dr. No, Miss Taro uses her privilaged position as Pleydell Smith 's secretary to relay confidential government information back to Dr. No. Thanks to Taro's intelligence, Dr. No was made aware of Bond's identity and a welcoming party consisting of Annabelle Chung and a taxi were waiting for 007 on his arrival in Kingston Airport. This had led them to his room at the Blue Hills Hotel, where a basket-full of poisoned fruit was left for him. She also proved instrumental in stealing vital government files on Dr. No.

Film biography

As in the novel, Miss Taro works as secretary to the Colonial Secretary, Mr. Pleydell Smith in Kingston Jamaica. After meeting with Smith, Bond catches her leaning against the door attempting to listen into the pair's conversation. Bond confronts her and, fumbling with nearby papers, she claims she was searching for the files on Dr. No. Lightening the atmosphere, Bond invites her to tour the island with him later that afternoon.

Later, she calls Bond at his hotel and invites him to her home in attempt to lure him into an ambush. En route, an attempt is made on his life by The Three Blind Mice. They fail and to her surprise, Bond arrives at her home unharmed. After receiving a telephone call from her handlers, she is ordered to keep him at her home until other assassins arrive. So she seduces Bond and the two sleep together. However, aware of her betrayal, afterward Bond tricks her into thinking they are going out for dinner but instead has her arrested.

Behind the scenes

Zena Marshall described her role as "this attractive little siren, and at the same time I was the spy, a bad woman", who Young asked to play "not as Chinese, but a Mid-Atlantic woman who men dream about but is not real"

Marshall took three days to shoot her landmark bedroom scene with Connery and that she found it very difficult to spit in his face when handed over to the police.