This year’s charity watchalong is all 007 of Connery’s Bond films, back to back. Join us for some or all of it on 29 and 30 May to help us raise funds to prevent suicide.

James Bond is not always the best role model for staying mentally healthy. When faced with battles in his own brain, he’s far likelier to slip into avoidance behaviours (martinis, girls, guns) than deal with them head on. Even so, within the pages of the original Fleming’s books, we find that Bond’s creator was ahead of his time: he was not only interested in the treatment of mental difficulties, but also armed 007 with a coping technique recommended by professionals today.

Nobody does it better than 007, allegedly. For International Women’s Day - and in the interests of equity - let’s celebrate six occasions where women showed Bond they’re not merely his equal, but can do things better than him.