Tall, statuesque, exotic, stunning and Italian ...and most people had never seen or heard of her. That is until a certain camp film came out in 1981, and the world was exposed (quite literally) to the glorious curves of Ms Muti, thanks to Flash Gordon.

While the film is known for many things - Queen's soundtrack, Brian Blessed, and Peter Duncan from Blue Peter getting killed by Timothy Dalton - there was one star of the film that would make dads throughout the country suggest they go and see Flash Gordon just one more time with you at the cinema (and not it's not for Sam Jones in his leather pants).

It was for, of course, that scene right at the beginning of the film where Ms Muti slinks her way from behind Ming's throne covered in only the briefest of brief gold bikinis (also with a dwarf on a chain, if you're into that sort of thing) and stating in a voice like velvet "Father I want him... give him to me".

Now that, my friend, is an entrance to stand up to the test of time time.

While Ms Muti has dropped off the British/UK film and TV scene for many years, she can still be seen in many European movies, the most notable of which is a superb French version of the The Count of Monte Cristo with had Gerard Depardieu as the Count (who weirdly doesn't lose any weight even after all his years in captivity).
While this was filmed in the late 90s, nearly 20 years after Flash Gordon, Ornella Muti looks as though she hasn't aged a day.. and still looks as stunning as ever. We salute her. And she has her own website - with some, er, 'work inappropriate' pictures on it - right here...

Previously in Geeks of a Certain Age...

There was Phoebe Cates!
And what about Jenny Agutter!
What about Buck Rogers' Erin Gray!
And where it all began: Nicola Bryant!