Molly Peters, known for her role in Thunderball, has died at the age of 75.

Her death was announced on the James Bond official Twitter account on Tuesday, in a post reading: “We are sad to hear that Molly Peters has passed away at the age of 75. Our thoughts are with her family.”

The English actress was famously the first ‘Bond girl’ to take her clothes off on screen in the 1965 film, sparking controversy and nearly earning the film an ‘X’ rating.

Peters started her short-lived film career in the early sixties after being discovered by filmmaker Terence Young.

She starred in 1964’s Peter Studies Form before landing the role of Nurse Patricia Fearing opposite Sean Connery in Thunderball.

A number of scenes featuring the pair were ordered to be cut by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) after being deemed too racy for audiences.

Peters starred in just a few films after her star turn opposite Connery, playing her final role in Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River in 1968.

According to commentary on the DVD release of Thunderball, Peters’ short-lived acting career was the result of a disagreement between her and her agent.

James Bond actor Sir Roger Moore died last week at the age of 89 after a short cancer battle.