Rosa Klebb

A Soviet operative whose deadliest strike comes from a poisoned shoe blade hidden in plain sight.

Colonel Rosa Klebb stands as the primary antagonist in Ian Fleming's 1957 novel From Russia with Love and its 1963 film adaptation. Played by Lotte Lenya on screen, she is a Soviet counter-intelligence operative discharged from SMERSH to join SPECTRE. Her name serves as a pun on the Russian phrase "khleb i rozy" (bread and roses), translating an international labor union slogan. In the novel, Klebb is described as unattractive, standing 5 ft 4 in tall, with a reputation for interrogating agents by torturing them before speaking in a warm, motherly tone to extract information.

Quick Facts

Series

James Bond

First

From Russia, with Love (1957 novel)

Last

From Russia with Love (1963 film)

Creator

Ian Fleming

Portrayed by

Lotte Lenya

Gender

Female

Affiliation

SMERSH (novel)
Ex-SMERSH, defects to SPECTRE (film)
KGB/OCTOPUS (video games)

Nationality

Russian

Lore & Background

In the novel, Klebb is a veteran of the Spanish Civil War who served as an infiltrator within the Workers' Party of Marxist Unification (POUM). She was rumoured to be both the mistress and the assassin of her chief, Andreu Nin i Perez. In his late 40s during the events of the book, she acts on orders from SMERSH leader General Nicholai Grubozaboyschikov. Her mission is revenge against James Bond for the deaths of three operatives: Le Chiffre, Mr. Big, and Hugo Drax. She teams with Tov Kronsteen and Red Grant to set a trap using cipher clerk Tatiana Romanova, who pretends to defect while claiming to fall in love with Bond.

Reader's Guide

Klebb's character in the novel implies lesbianism through her butch depiction, described alongside Pussy Galore as one of Fleming's "two memorable lesbians." She is characterized as a typical butch figure. For the film, her sexuality was made less obvious, though hints remain: she reacts when SPECTRE henchman Morzeny touches her arm and appraises Romanova's figure, touching her leg during their first meeting. Her shoe blade has inspired similar weapons in films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Kingsman: The Secret Service. A pair of her shoes appears in Q's headquarters in Die Another Day, marking the series' 40th anniversary.

Did You Know?

The 1963 film changed her death scene: in the book, Bond never sees her die; in the film, Tatiana shoots her after a fight.
Her shoe blade weapon has been referenced or used by characters in films including Wild Wild West and The Dark Knight.
In the 2010 reimagining of GoldenEye 007, the 'Klobb' weapon was renamed 'Klebb', making her a playable character.