Meet the real James Bond

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James Bond 007, the suave, debonair British secret agent, is one of the most iconic and beloved fictional characters of all time. Serving as the muse for Bond was Serbian secret agent Dusko Popov.

Years before he began penning his Bond novels, Ian Flemming travelled to Portugal to work as an officer for the British Naval Intelligence Services. While there, he stayed at the Estoril Palace Hotel in a room next door to the Serbian secret agent.

Popov’s assignment in Portugal during World War 2 was to infiltrate the German military intelligence organization, the Abwehr.

He was a smooth operator being fluent in multiple languages and he had a knack for charming the ladies.

It is said that one night, Fleming bore witness to Popov gambling a large sum of money at a baccarat table in order to get the better of and ultimately embarrass another casino patron.

This scene ended up serving as the inspiration for the first James Bond novel published 1953, "Casino Royale."

After his days as a spy were over, Popov moved to the south of France where he passed away in 1981 at the age of 69.

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