From an appealing on-screen presence to the iconic sex symbol, Raquel Welch has a special place in the cinematic history of Hollywood. Born Jo Raquel Tejada, this actress of Bolivian-American descent rose to fame through her early television appearances. Her breakthrough roles as Cora in Fantastic Voyage and a fur-bikini-clad character in One Million Years B.C. really caught the attention of sci-fi fans and simple moviegoers.
Throughout the years, Welch’s popularity soared. But her most memorable contributions lie in her sexiest, funniest, and most iconic portrayals.
1. Fantastic Voyage (1966)
Fantastic Voyage was Welch’s first truly successful role. In this film, she played a hot doctor who shrinks and enters a dying scientist’s body. Even though she was little and hardly visible, Raquel Welch was dazzling enough to make people want to look at her more.
2. One Million Years B.C. (1966)
Loana, a cavewoman wearing a furkini, gets into the middle of a fight between two prehistoric tribes. The plot was secondary, because Welch’s iconic fur bikini stole the spotlight. Her promotional poster was sold separately, becoming a hit among her male fans and bringing in considerable revenue for the producers.
3. Fathom (1967)
In Fathom, Welch played a daring adventurer recruited by British Intelligence to stop a nuclear disaster. Though not as polished as the Bond series, Fathom showcased Welch in a revolutionary role for the 60s’, that of a kickass female spy.
