Original Miss Moneypenny is gone

One of the saddest aspects of the new James Bond franchise is the absence of Miss. Moneypenny. The one women you believe James Bond always respected, so much so that he would never be the one to hurt her… because of cause Bond doesn’t settle down.

He knew she was too good for him.

Lois Maxwell was the original Miss. Moneypenny, gracing the screen for 23 years flirting away with 007 for over two decades with a hint of sadness that she does actually love him deep down. Maxwell played the character for 14 films, remarkably only lobbying for the role after her husband had suffered a heart attack and she had to work to pay the bills.

Working for only $100 a day, she had to supply her own clothing for the part of M’s secretary but after a few films she became a staple of the Bond franchise in her own right just as much as Q & M. The three became a trio of characters who would be in every Bond movie until Casino Royale which shockingly decided to ditch Q and Moneypenny, a mistake which I hope they rectify soon.

Of course with those in the industry who have become iconic for one role, it’s easy to forget and overlook the rest of their career in the industry. We shouldn’t forget that Maxwell starred in Kubrick’s Lolita, Robert Wise’s original The Haunting and a host of T.V shows like The Avengers. Her last role was six years ago in the Jeremy Irons/Forest Whitaker thriller The Fourth Angel.

Maxwell died Saturday at the age of 80. The new Bond franchise really isn’t the same without Miss but never Mrs, Moneypenny.

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