Russian spy Anna Chapman has revealed some secrets in her first TV interview - she has a passion for shooting, wants a lion cub as a pet and Sean Connery is her favourite James Bond actor.
But she remained silent on the job that made her an international tabloid star.
Ms Chapman (28) was part of what the US Justice Department called a "deep-cover" spy ring, some of whom had posed as ordinary Americans for more than a decade. The 10 suspects were deported and swapped for four people convicted of spying in Russia after they pleaded guilty to conspiring to serve as unregistered foreign agents on July 8th in US. federal court in Manhattan.
Russians have been waiting for her to speak publicly after months of teasing the media.
Ms Chapman said on a talk show on state television that she considers the failure of her mission a chance for new opportunities - though she declined to give details on what exactly her mission was. She told viewers of Let Them Speak on state-owned Channel One to "keep watching television" for the "secrets" she plans to reveal next year.
She received a lion cub as a present from host Andrei Malakhov after saying she wanted one as a pet. She said she turned down an offer to appear on Oprah Winfrey's show and chose to give her first interview on Russian television to "support the domestic producer."
She has become the new celebrity face of a Moscow bank that works with aerospace industries and joined the leadership of the youth wing of the main pro-Kremlin party. She said she plans to have her own TV show.
Ms Chapman stripped down to lingerie for a photo spread in the Russian edition of Maxim, appearing on the cover of the November issue under the caption "For Your Eyes Only" - the title of a 1981 James Bond movie. Naked photos of her appeared in Playboy's US edition this month.
Asked who her favourite James Bond actor is, she named Sean Connery. She also said she admires Angelina Jolie, who played a suspected Russian sleeper agent in this year's Salt - and hinted she has her own action star abilities.
"I'm a very good shot," Ms Chapman said. "I have a passion for it, and I love going to shooting ranges."
Agencies